Panasonic's RPTV LIFI bulb lasts so long, it might never need changing

As much as we love the value of rear projections TVs they are not without their issues, most notably is the eventual replacement of the bulb. While some manufactures are using LEDs to solve this problem, these can be more expensive so Panasonic has taken another approach in an attempt to keep costs down. They are using converted HID (High Intensity Discharge) lamps to create a new light engine that they are calling LIFI. They are claiming that this lamp lasts so long you may never need to change it. The brightness will never fade and has a very wide spectrum of light which helps the set produce a wide range of colors. The other great thing about LIFI is the boot times are greatly reduced because the bulb size is considerably smaller, they are claiming it display an image about 6 times faster. LIFI TVs will be available in 50", 56" and 61" sizes, all are available in your choice of 720p or the latest craze 1080p and 3,000:1 contrast ratio. There aren't any prices yet, but look for them in the 2nd quarter of 2007.

[R2P2 @ Jan 9th 2007 8:04AM]

Um, so that covers the bulb, but what display technology are those TVs using? LCD, DLP, LCoS? I mostly hear about Panasonic making plasmas, not RPTVs.

[Lonnie McClure @ Jan 9th 2007 8:16AM]

R2P2:

The non-CRT projection TVs and standalone projectors on the Panasonic website all appear to be LCD technology.

[Frank @ Jan 9th 2007 8:19AM]

Cool!!

Now I can replace my HDTV again this year.

This is so cool, I love replacing my HDTV every year. First it was HD-READY, then DVI, then ATSC built in, then it was HDMI...now LIFI, HDMI 1.3 and 1080P.

I LOVE REPLACING MY TV EVERY YEAR. WELL WORTH IT.

[Jeffrey @ Jan 9th 2007 9:16AM]

@Frank

I ain't gonna be making any money if you're gonna buy my TV once every 10 years. Stupid laggards.

[J @ Jan 9th 2007 9:14AM]

Frank,

I know your comments were meant to be sarcastic, but there are certainly people who feel this way. As one of the earlier adopters of HDTV, I got screwed out of many of the enhancements of the current HDTVs. My HDTV is HD-capable, two component in, 480P, 480i, 1080i and that's it. Sure I'd like to have DVI/HDMI and 720P 1080P, but it wasn't in the cards at that time. So, this summer/fall, when it's a full 5 years after I bought my first HDTV, I'll probably get a new one - hopefully with most of the bells and whistles. No need to get a new one every year (or even every 3) unless you've got money to burn. Do it for the picture, not having the latest and greatest all the time.

[CaptCaveman @ Jan 9th 2007 4:02PM]

I actually replace my TV about every 3-4 years. Normally my extended warranty will last longer then I will keep my TV. My friends and co-workers have no argument against me doing it either since they are the ones that normally buy them.

I do however still have the first New TV that I purchased. A 19" RCA. Still works, and still looks pretty good. I used to keep it in the bedroom.

But seeing that I needed a really really expensive hobby and home entertainment was my hobby of choice things become outdated to me after 3 years.

[Bogwitch @ Jan 9th 2007 8:33AM]

Let's see if Panasonic are willing to put their money where their mouth is with a lifetime warranty.
Come to think of it, why don't manufacturers have enough confidence in their product to offer a lifetime warranty on all their products?

[Aaron @ Jan 9th 2007 9:23AM]

Products have a limited warranty because there is a limited time in which an issue is a manufacturers defect and normal wear/breakdown. Secondly (and more importantly), Panasonic, Sony, Toshiba, etc. are all businesses and are in business to make money. Eating a repair bill in the first year or two is something they do but eventually the warranty runs out and the product is ultimately YOUR product and YOUR responsibility to upkeep/maintain.

[Intrepid @ Jan 9th 2007 8:40AM]

Yummmmmm...

[Chuckles McGee @ Jan 9th 2007 9:39AM]

"Lasts so long YOU never need to change it" seems to imply not that the bulb lasts forever, but simply that it will outlive you. When you learn that the bulb has an ontime of only five years, it really gets you worried.

[stretchsje @ Jan 9th 2007 11:07AM]

Panasonic is one of the leaders in front projection, where bulb life is even lower than rear projection (due, I'm sure, to the higher brightness requirements). Front projection bulbs often last only 2000 hours (and get so dim after 1000 hours that they often get replaced early) and even then aren't bright enough to combat much ambient light. So, that's where I'd most like to see this technology applied.

[lettcco @ Jan 9th 2007 4:08PM]

actually HID uses less energy than regular halogen in car's headlight system: typical HID headlight only uses 35W compare to 55/65W when using halogen. HID is brighter because it's more efficient. I know the ballast require a large current to drive it at start up but they generally do not produce more heat than a regular converter.

[Climber Rich @ Jan 9th 2007 6:49PM]

I was at the Panasonic booth yesterday. They said that they will be giving a 5 year warranty for the lifi lamp! They also said that the picture keeps 80% of the brightness after 5 years. The colors on the TV were amazing. Reds are red, blues are blue, etc. Even the blacks were black not dark gray. It sounds pretty good to me. A 60" TV that looked just like LCD at 1/2 the cost.

[Jypson @ Jan 9th 2007 7:19PM]

3000:1? No thanks.

[Fubar @ Jan 9th 2007 7:57PM]

So, when is one of these going into the Engadget DIY HD projector?

[kballs @ Jan 9th 2007 10:46PM]

LCD projectors from Panasonic already use HID lamps, just that they don't have heatsinks directly attached. They may be more efficient than halogen or hallide, etc. but that just means they will push up the brightness to eat up the difference (a brighter image is always beneficial with front/rear projection because of ambient light issues). I'm waiting for LED or laser light sources for LCD and DLP projectors to become more common and brighter as they will provide the same light output with much less heat (or can be heatsinked externally so you don't need a noisy fan and dust coming into your equipment), and they won't need any cool down time after shutting off the unit before you can turn it back on (like current projectors - both front and rear).

[Climber Rich @ Jan 9th 2007 11:27PM]

You guys don't get it. The Lifi lamp isn't a HID Lamp. It is totally new technology. It has no electrode. That's why it doesn't wear out. The lamp turns on to full power in 10 seconds. Panasonic had a lamp cycling on and off continuously in their booth all day every 30 seconds. They had a side by side comparison to an HID display at the booth and the picture was much brighter and the colors much more vivid and real looking.

[ej ponce @ Jan 10th 2007 10:42AM]

From what i understand about HID. They run in 35 watts (automobile HID), the ballast is just an like an amplifier to power up the bulb. And yes it does not have a filament that will burn out.

As bright as it is, I bet this has a limited range (10ft~20ft, as HID tends to create orbs when projected far from the wall/screen... or they probably changed the wattage to the bulb or the type/shape of bulb to compensate on those flaws.

As for heat, 35watts (automobile HID) lower heat than halogen... downside if u do have to change bulbs i bet they cost $100~$300 per bulb

[Andy @ Jan 10th 2007 2:09PM]

Chances are you wouldn't have to change the bulb for quite some time. In theory, assuming no defects of course, you would never need to change an HID. I believe in HID's the light is generated from a plasma arc, so there is no filament to burn out. I'm worried about the heat this thing is going to generate (so is Panasonic, judging from the HUGE heat sinks). Power requirements may be an issue as well, automobile HID's require a hight current power ballast to maintain linear power, I can only imagine this would be the same. But I guess that the projector doesn't need to be as bright as a headlight, so maybe power is a non-issue...who knows...

[Climber Rich @ Jan 10th 2007 8:24PM]

You are right that there is no filament to wear out with HID bulbs. However, The electrode does degrade over time and it does wear out.

Luxim's lamp has no electrode and no filament. They heat up some materials in the bulb to a plasma state. That is what gives off the light. Turn off the light and the plasma cools into the material's cold state. Turn on the light and it becomes plasma again. That is how they can claim a 25,000 hour + lifetime for the lamp.