Toshiba's "Qosmio" Opens New Generation in AV Notebook PCs

22 July, 2004


Toshiba's New Concept Notebook PCs Meet Rising Demand for Personal Entertainment Solution

dynabook Qosmio E10/1KLDEW
 
dynabook Qosmio E10/1KLDEW
wireless TV tuner (PAWTV001)
 
dynabook Qosmio E10/1KLDEW

Tokyo -- Toshiba Corporation today advanced the convergence of portable personal computing and high-grade audio-visual capabilities with the announcement of "Qosmio" ("koss-mee-oh,"), a new brand of PC, and a new type of PC that brings the unique four-in-one experience of PC functionality, TV, audio and a DVD recorder to the consumer PC market.

The Qosmio series will be rolled out worldwide, with the three models in the initial Qosmio E10 series scheduled for launch in Japan on August 6. All three will feature 15-inch screens, and Toshiba will expand the line-up with 15.4-inch and 17-inch wide-screen versions by the end of 2004.

Announcing the new brand, Atsutoshi Nishida, President and CEO of Toshiba's Personal Computer & Network Company, said: "Toshiba's Qosmio offers consumers a personal entertainment solution and delivers a new level of value. With Qosmio, we are now free to enjoy diverse digital AV content on the move, at our leisure. Qosmio establishes a whole new category of AV Notebook PC."

Advances in digitization, including the transition to digital broadcasting, have long been welcomed as promoting the convergence of computing and AV sources. While companies have taken steps in this direction, including introducing AV-PC desktop PCs with a TV tuner, the main target has been the home and products designed for use in a fixed place. Toshiba's Qosmio recognizes that content is no longer fixed, and that people not only want to be able to enjoy it but to take it with them—and Qosmio offers an optimized environment for doing so.

Qosmio PCs share a common platform that allows them to integrate powerful hardware and software solutions. The former include a proprietary TV tuner that Toshiba can factory-configure for use with the NTSC, PAL or SECAM. Qosmio also boasts state-of-the-art video and audio technologies that realize high-grade image reproduction and superb sound quality.

At the heart of image playback is Toshiba's proprietary "QosmioEngine". This newly developed technology combines 11 optimized image processing technologies for diverse image sources, including TV and DVD, with a video enhancer dedicated to producing superb images. The 11 image enhancing technologies cover de-blocking, de-ringing, digital sharpness, digital overdrive, interlace to progressive conversion, black and white level enhancement, color correction, edge enhancement, digital noise reduction, 3D Y/C separation, and 10-bit A/D conversion*1.

Image quality is further enhanced by the Qosmio display, a "High-luminance Clear SuperView LCD." The display achieves a brightness of, 600cd/m2, surpassing that of LCD TVs, by integrating two backlights, while dual filter coatings reduce diffusion of internal light and reflection of ambient light to reproduce clear, high contrast images.

Toshiba's MPEG-2, real-time-hardware-encoder-based "Qosmio TV Tuner" offers five image-enhancing technologies, including time-base correction, ghost reduction, digital-noise reduction, 3D Y/C separation, and 10-bit A/D conversion*1, and supports high resolution recording at a maximum encoding rate of 8Mbps.

Qosmio's excellent image quality is complemented by the superb sound of 30mm diameter harman/kardon®speakers--the largest speakers yet integrated into notebook PCs. The sound system realizes maximum output power of 4W (2W x 2). The result is high quality sound and reproduction of lower registers, even without a woofer. Integration of "TruSurround XT" and "WOW XT" from SRS Labs also supports rich stereo sound that clearly brings out each instrument.

Toshiba has sought to make Qosmio PCs as easy to use as they are versatile with its "QosmioPlayer" and "QosmioUI" control software. "QosmioPlayer" provides fast access to TV, a CD or DVD, with no need to boot Windows®. It also supports simple recording to Qosmio's integrated HDD.

QosmioPlayer also supports time shift: press the time shift button on its remote controller and a Qosmio PC will record a program and continue to do so, even as the viewer goes back to the start of program, moves from one recorded part to another, or repeatedly watches one part of the program. This and other functions can all be easily controlled from the PC's front panel or its remote controller.

"QosmioUI" navigation software provides control of AV functions when Windows®is on, including viewing TV and video, editing motion pictures and playing back a CD or DVD. The brightness of the LCD, volume adjustment and program recording can also be controlled with "Qosmio UI" navigation.

Toshiba supports Qosmio's wireless capabilities with an optional wireless TV tuner (PAWTV001) that can be connected to an antenna or cable socket by coaxial cable, and to a set-top box or video source, including personal digital video, via a video composite cable. The tuner communicates with Qosmio PCs when linked in an 802.11b/g wireless LAN.

Qosmio combines the English word cosmos with mio, the Italian for my, to create "my cosmos" or "my space". In coining the word, Toshiba sought to capture the idea of PCs that are close to the user and that have infinite potential as next generation notebook PCs. The mellifluous sound of Qosmio, and the Qosmio logo, express the ideas of "novelty and innovation" and "unique existence," qualities Toshiba has cultivated since it launched the world's first notebook PC in 1989.

Basic Outline of Initial Products

Basic Outline of Initial Products

Technologies integrated into Qosmio Engine

Technologies integrated into Qosmio Engine

*1. Effectiveness of image processing may differ with TV reception or the type of DVD images or image sources. Image processing may not be valid for some image sources. The processing technologies applied by "QosmioEngine" depend on the image source.


  • Name of products mentioned in this press release may be registered trademarks or trademarks of specific companies.
  • Intel, Intel Centrino, Pentium, and Celeron are registered trademark or trademark of Intel Corporation.
  • Microsoft and Windows are registered trademark or trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S. and in other countries.
  • Formal title of Windows is Microsoft Windows Operating System..
  • WOW XT and TruSound XT and SRS are trademarks of SRS Labs, Inc. Toshiba has licensed WOW XT and TruSound XT from SRS Labs, Inc.
  • Capacity of HDD is calculated with a basis of 1-giga byte = 1-billion byte.

Information in the press releases, including product prices and specifications, content of services and contact information, is current on the date of the press announcement,but is subject to change without prior notice.