Sharp

Sharp sets highest solar cell efficiency

By Paul Ridden

05:39 October 27, 2009 PDT

The Sharp Corporation has developed a compound solar cell that has achieved a conversion efficiency of 35.8 percent. Developing a new base layer for its triple-junction compound solar cell has improved on Sharp's previous conversion efficiency by almost four percent. Read More

Feature: What is an LED TV?

By Jeff Salton

04:06 October 19, 2009 PDT

Buying a TV has become as complicated as selecting the right mobile phone plan. Before large flat panel displays invaded our lives, the only real question when purchasing a CRT (cathode ray tube) TV was how big did you want it and how much space did you have in your room to house it? Sure, there were some quality issues but mostly it was dictated by how many diagonal inches you could get for your buck. While some of that justification still rings true with today’s TVs, now there’s the issue of plasma versus LCD to contend with, and just when you had that sorted out, LED TVs have entered the arena as an option. However, there still seems to be a fair bit of confusion surrounding what exactly an LED TV is. Well, basically, it’s another form of LCD TV that uses LEDs to provide its light source. Read More

Sharp DK-AP8 docking system adds the right touch

By Jeff Salton

01:37 September 8, 2009 PDT

Sharp has designed its new iPod docking system to match the look and feel of an iPod or iPhone. Finished in glossy piano black, the DK-AP8 has a removable touch panel that controls the system button-free via infrared. Something a little different, the Sharp unit has various ports including AUX input and video (FBAS) output on the back which enables it to be connected to a TV for viewing photos or videos stored on the iPhone or iPod. Read More

Nissan's Forest AC a breath of fresh air

By Jeff Salton

23:38 August 4, 2009 PDT

Nissan's new Fuga vehicles will have an air conditioning system that emulates forest scents and refreshing breezes to make driving more comfortable. The company says the air conditioner uses a number of technologies to control cabin temperature, ventilation, aroma and humidity. It can even detect bad smells from outside and shuts its vents to prevent their entry. The system is based on the results of a joint research study with the Tokyo University of Science on the effects of aroma on human mental activity. Read More

Sharp introduces color changing LED light bulbs

By Jude Garvey

22:47 June 17, 2009 PDT

When it comes to choosing light globes these days, energy-conscious consumers have a multitude of choice. Both CFL bulbs and LED bulbs offer energy-efficient lighting and whilst they seem expensive at first, you realize they will save you money in the long term. However, a less appealing feature of LED globes is the bright, white light they emit, not particularly compatible with creating a warm, romantic feel in your home. That may be about to change. Sharp Corporation has just announced an LED globe that includes a remote-controlled, adjustable-color function and a dimmer. Read More

Sharp releases "industry's thinnest" solar panel for mobile devices

By Paul Best

23:22 May 28, 2009 PDT

Recently we reported on Japanese cellular provider KDDI releasing a Sharp waterproof, solar-powered cell phone, which we believe has been renamed the SH002. Growing interest in both photovoltaic power as a clean and green source of energy and solar-powered devices has galvanized Sharp to release globally its new LR0GC02 solar module for mobile devices – which it claims is the industry's thinnest. Read More

Sharp first with solar-powered, waterproof mobile phone

By Darren Quick

22:00 May 24, 2009 PDT

Mobile phones and the beach are generally not a great mix, but for anyone looking to stay in touch while soaking up the rays there are a few more details filtering through regarding Sharp’s waterproof, solar-powered phone. Due for a June release in Japan through Japan’s KDDI wireless provider the new phone has finally gained a title, the Solar Ketai (Solar Mobile) and will be released as part of KDDI’s “au” line. Read More

Sharp's LCD Christmas Tree

By Emily Clark

22:04 December 2, 2008 PST

In a nod to Christmas cheer and the spirit of giving, Sharp has unveiled a 26-foot tall tree comprising 43 of its AQUOS LCD televisions. Aside from enhancing the holiday atmosphere, the “AQUOS Experience” in New York’s Grand Central Terminal represents Sharp’s donation to non-profit organization, the Hope Program. Read More

Sharp AQUOS DX Series LCD TVs feature integrated Blu-ray recorders

By Noel McKeegan

22:23 October 21, 2008 PDT

October 22, 2008 Sharp's new 16-model AQUOS line-up is the first series of LCD TV's in the world to be equipped with built-in Blu-ray Disc recorders. Ranging in size from 26-inch to 52-inch, the all-in-one DX Series design means there's no cords cluttering the back of your TV stand and viewing, disc-playing and recording can be simply controlled using one remote. Read More

Sharp's solar LED street lights incorporate seismic detection

By Noel McKeegan

17:29 September 9, 2008 PDT

The argument for switching to solar-powered street lighting seems very clear cut: they run on sunlight, emit no CO2 emissions, provide an off-the grid source of lighting during in an emergency situation and use efficient LED-based light which tends not to attract insects. Sharp Corporation has announced plans to roll-out two new models of solar-powered LED street lights in the Japanese market and these have the added bonus of in-built Seismic Motion Sensors which detect earthquakes of five or greater on the Japanese seismic scale and respond by switching to full illumination for two nights. Read More

Industry leaders back AMIMON's Wireless Home Digital Interface technology

By Tim Hanlon

00:02 July 25, 2008 PDT

July 25, 2008 AMIMON, Hitachi, Motorola, Samsung, Sharp and Sony have formed an interest group to develop a standard for multi-room connectivity using AMIMON's Wireless Home Digital Interface (WHDI) technology. Read More

Sharp shows new displays for rugged industrial applications

By Darren Quick

00:10 May 23, 2008 PDT

May 23, 2008 In more news to come out of the Society for Information Display’s (SID’s) 2008 International Symposium, Seminar, and Exhibition, Sharp announced the availability of two new rugged TFT LCD panels. The 5.7-inch and 8.4-inch TFT-LCDs are VGA panel displays designed to suit a variety of applications, including point-of-purchase screens, VoIP products, medical equipment, test and measurement equipment. Read More

Sharp's new air purifiers combine purification and humidification

By Emily Clark

18:28 March 12, 2008 PDT

Sharp has released two new air-purifiers that combine three technologies to quietly and efficiently clean and refresh air in the home. The KC-C100U and KC-C150U use a triple filtration system, Sharp’s Plasmacluster technology and a humidification function to trap dust and pollen, decrease odors, and freshen and humidify the air. Read More

Sharp adds a touch of gold to AQUOS range with D83X models

By Darren Quick

14:54 November 29, 2007 PST

November 30, 2007 Joining Sharp’s AQUOS family is the new D83X range of LCD TV’s featuring styling similar to their PD5 and PD7 stablemates with the familiar piano black finish, but adding a champagne gold colored line inset and new blade boundaried edge. It is not just the aesthetics of the TV that have received a makeover with the entire D83X range featuring full HD next generation Advanced Super View (ASV) LCD panels from Sharp’s Kameyama plant in Japan. Read More

Cohousing community shines with solar

By Emily Clark

22:06 November 26, 2007 PST

November 27, 2007 Originating in Denmark, cohousing is a concept whereby residents actively participate in operation of their own neighborhoods and are committed to living as a community. In Colorado, one such neighborhood is installing solar systems into homes and a shop, supplying half of the community's electrical needs and reducing their carbon footprint. Read More

Sharp shows the future of touch screens for micro devices

By Mike Hanlon

17:32 October 2, 2007 PDT

October 3, 2007 Sharp yesterday began publicly demonstrating a new technology that could have far reaching effects on the way we interact with the mounting tide of mobile information available to us through diminutive devices such as smart phones, PDAs, cameras and UMPCs – the marriage of sensing function with an LCD screen is not new, but Sharp’s technology puts an optical sensor into each pixel enabling the screen to become a multiple touch-point screen and a scanner. Read More

Sharp showcases World’s largest LCD TV - 108 inches

By Mike Hanlon

January 9, 2007 With global demand for LCD televisions expected to grow by more than 50% this year, it was opportune timing for Sharp to roll out the world’s largest LCD TV, the 108-inch AQUOS. to promote its expertise at CES 2007. Not surprisingly, the 108-incher was the drawcard, extending its LCD offerings to four distinct ranges and 50 models ranging from 13- to 108-inches in screen size. The prototype 108-inch Full HD 1080p LCD TV is the world’s largest, measures 93.9-inches (w) by 52.9-inches (h) in size, and is expected to become available by mid-year. Perhaps the most important announcement was that some of the screens due in showrooms prior to the end of the year will feature refresh rates of 120 Hz, double the current 60 Hz standard. Read More

Sharp to produce World's largest LCD television at 65 inches

By Mike Hanlon

June 5, 2005 Sharp has announced it will begin selling a 65’ LCD television in Japan in August, and in so doing will claim the title of the world’s largest “production” LCD television. The announcement is a major coup for Sharp in the public relations cut-and-thrust with its fellow television manufacturers Matsushita (aka Panasonic), Samsung and LG and pushes the Japanese company into screen real estate territory previously inhabited only by plasma screens. Further embarrassment will caused by the pricing and specifications of the Sharp 65 incher which will sell for 1.68 million yen and have a screen resolution of 1920 x 1,080 pixels both considerably better than equivalent plasma screens in the Japanese domestic market. Read More

Sharp Introduces Superheated Steam Oven

By Mike Hanlon

With a society increasingly demanding healthier ways of cooking, Sharp may have served up just the dish. They have unveiled a Superheated Steam Oven that it claims will enable low calorie cooking by roasting foods using water.

The Electric Superheated Steam Oven features a newly developed Superheated Steam Generator that bathes food in a spray of superheated steam to provide low-calorie cooking as well as removing excess fat and salt from foods, while retaining vitamins. Read More