Toshiba launches Pro Theatre TVs that run Android apps

Various innovations have been integrated into the new L94 Pro Theatre TVs with Ultra-HD 4K and Android to ensure that pictures reveal more details than with a similar Full HD display. Four times sharper than Full HD, Ultra-HD 4K offers enhanced clarity for a growing selection of 4K content. Demonstration pictures however are specially taken with 4K in mind.

Toshiba's latest Ultra-HD 4K L9450 series with Android Pro Theatre TVs combines image quality with an abundance of Android apps that are downloadable on Google Play. The third-generation of Ultra-HD 4K TVs are designed and tested in Japan, and combine its proprietary CEVO 4K engine with a range of new features to display a growing selection of 4K content at its best. 

The L94 Pro-Theatre TVs with Ultra-HD 4K and Android are available in 50", 65" and 84" models. 

For example, High Dynamic Range restoration technology restores elements that are lost during the recording and production of the video content to improve contrast, texture and brightness. The Intelligent Scene Optimizer function automatically adjusts picture and sound settings based on the genre of the scene, and Direct LED backlighting uses a large number of LEDs to enhance overall contrast. Intelligent Autoview even senses ambient lighting conditions in the surrounding environment and adjusts the picture settings accordingly.

The TVs can be used as computer displays, and are bought by businesses for conference rooms, the company said. With available Android apps, documents created by common productivity software can be downloaded to available memory on the TV and viewed onscreen, eliminating the need for a presentation device. Wireless mice, keyboards and gamepads can be used in addition to the standard remote control as input devices*.

“With the huge popularity of Android mobile devices, Toshiba recognised the potential within this market segment. The L9450 is developed to deliver not only the best picture realised by Ultra-HD 4K and our proprietary imaging technologies, but also the versatility of the multi-platform Android without an additional set top box,” said Ronald So, Assistant General Manager of Toshiba Singapore.

The platform combines aspects of a smartphone, tablet, computer and TV in that smartphone screens can be mirrored to the TV so that apps can be viewed in a much larger screen format. While the Android operating system cannot be upgraded, the Android apps which are available can be updated. Up to eight user profiles can be created to support the needs of different users.

Users can download an estimated 3,000 apps from Google Play that are compatible with the TV screen formats in 27 categories, including games, productivity and educational apps. Each unit comes with about 2.3 GB of available memory for downloaded apps. A similar unit from a competing vendor manages 400 apps specially written for its platform in seven categories, and slightly over 1 GB of available memory.

The L9450 series is available in screen sizes of up to 84", providing an immersive cinematic-viewing experience. Recommended pricing for the 50" model is S$2,299, for the 65" model, S$4,999 and the 84" model, S$17,999. 

Also new in the 2014 Toshiba Pro-Theatre line-up is the L5450 series, which also have integrated Android 4.4. The family has 32", 40", 47" and 55" models.

*Full compatibility and connectivity with all features are not guaranteed for commercial game pads, mice and keyboards

**http://games.androidxiphone.com/top-console-quality-games-android/