HD Guru &#187; OLED

We asked about any picture quality improvements but no information was provided in the press releases or during the demo. Styling wise, we have to acknowledge Vizio’s brave efforts to resist the thin depth, thin bezel trend seen on the 2012 Samsungs, LGs and Panasonics and simply continue with its wide bezel and deep cabinet design (photo). If the was any new styling on the 2012s I really couldn’t spot the differences.

For more on Vizio, check out our articles here and here.

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5 New 2012 HDTV Technologies that are actually interesting

Geoff Morrison — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 21:02:21 +0000

With the industry showcase CES over, and now that we’ve had a few days to recuperate, it’s time to take a look at new technologies coming out this year.

For the most part, this year’s CES was about bigger, cheaper flat panels, but in the crevasses there was some tech that’s actually worth getting excited about.

1) OLED

Of course.

LG and Samsung announced OLED, or Organic Light Emitting Diode televisions. We, and many other media outlets, gave the LG a best in show award.

Why are we excited? OLED promises to have a better black level and contrast ratio than plasma (even CRT), while offering lower power consumption and thinner cabinets than LED LCDs. Not only the best of both worlds, but better than both worlds.

No pricing was announced, but rumors have the 55-inch models in the $8k-$10k range. Before you scoff, it was only a few years ago that 50-inch LED LCDs were near this range. Prices will drop, quality will improve. We can’t wait.

2) Gesture Control/Facial Recognition

Several companies, including Samsung and LG (see a trend?) announced gesture control, or the ability to adjust your television without the remote. Think of it like a Xbox Kinect, but built into your TV. Wave your hand to increase the volume, etc. With Facial Recognition, the TV can automatically log you into Skype, or other services, just by looking at the TV.

In some closed-door demonstrations at the show, we got to see this in action. Like any cutting-edge technology, it’s not as seamless as you’d want, but it is undeniably cool.

Will you ditch the remote for hand waving and facial recognition? Probably not this year, but how could this not be the future of product interaction?

3) ARC (Audio Return Channel)

Released as part of the HDMI 1.4 standard, ARC sends the audio from the TV back up the cable to the receiver and/or soundbar. We’re finally seeing products with this feature built in.

In most cases, a home theater setup would be: source (Blu-ray, cable/satellite) -> receiver or soundbar -> television. This works fine, unless the TV itself is a source. With the prevalence of Smart TVs, this is becoming more common. So if you’re watching Netflix through an app on your TV, you either have to run a separate optical cable from the TV to the receiver, or just use the TV speakers.

With ARC, the TV’s audio gets sent back towards the receiver, and then out to your system’s speakers. Both the TV and the receiver/soundbar need to have ARC, and you’ll need an HDMI cable that supports it (most new ones do).

4) Mobile High-definition Link (MHL)

Roku recently released the Streaming Stick, essentially a miniaturized version of their Internet streaming box that’s the size of a USB flash drive and plugs directly into your TV. While cool, it itself isn’t “new tech” worthy. But how it works, is.

Mobile High-definition Link is a connection technology that uses existing connector types (i.e. HDMI or USB) to transmit 1080p video and 8-channel audio from a device to a TV, and then power from the TV back down to the device. This power can either charge the device (in the case of a mobile phone) or in Roku’s case, power it completely.

The odd thing about the Roku is that the TV has to have the MHL technology, meaning it has to be a new TV. Most new TVs already have streaming services built in. Regardless, it’s a cool idea that I’m sure many companies will developing products for.

5) Speech Recognition

While OLED got all the fanfare at CES this year, it was speech recognition that was seemingly everywhere. Whether it was standalone products, or built into TVs, talking to your products seems to be coming in a big way. You can thank the hype around Apple’s Siri for that.

The reason so many of these products are coming out now, and working, is largely due to one company: Nuance. Thanks to years of research and extensive studying of human speech patterns, Nuance allows devices to understanding what’s being said. No small feat, that.

Samsung and LG both have speech recognition built into many of their 2012 models. Commands like “Volume up” and “Power off” make the interaction with your TV more fluid, and entirely sci-fi.

Like any new technology (and the Gesture/face control mentioned above), it’s not quite as fast or fool-proof as you’d hope. Still, the idea of being able to walk into your TV room, say “TV On, channel 4,” and have the TV magically come to life is any sci-fi nerd’s dream. The tech isn’t quite there yet to do this perfectly, but it’s getting there.

Geoff Morrison @TechWriterGeoff
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The HD GURU CES 2012 Top Pick Award Winners Announced

Gary — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 19:39:52 +0000

The 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show is packed with new and innovative home theater products as all major home entertainment manufacturers debut their latest product lines. HD Guru and Geoff Morrison spent the week scouring press events and company booths seeking out the best new HDTV, 3D TV, Blu-ray player, Streaming Media Player, Sound Bar and the Best In Show.

This year’S HDTV products are the most innovative we’ve seen in years, with much larger screen sizes, new big screen display technology, new remote controls and much more. On to the winners.

Best HDTV: Panasonic VT50 Series Plasma (to be available in 55″,65″ screen sizes)

With picture improvements coming from almost every major TV maker gave us a long lists of finalists to consider. However, the improvements in the 2012 Panasonic top of the line VT50 plasma series are significant. Last year’s VT30 series took top honors for picture performance. In 2012 Panasonic raised the bar with a new way to drive the pixels that lowers the black level to the deepest ever, and better motion clarity using its new 2500 focused field drive circuit, according to a Panasonic spokesperson.

In a side-by-side comparison of the VT30 and VT 50 plasmas on the show floor the improvements a clear. The VT50 has the best image quality of any 2012 plasma or LED LCD we’ve seen at the show.

Best Media Player: LG SP820

LG’s SP820 Smart Upgrader turns any HDTV into a Smart TV providing instant streaming from Vudu, Amazon Instant, Cinema Now, Internet browser and more. In addition there are many apps available from LG’s app shop. This 2012 version adds Flash, HTML5 content viewing capability and LG’s Magic Motion remote that allows control by buttons, moving and tilting or with a wheel. The SP820 will ship this spring.

Best Sound Bar: Sharp HT-SL77

Sharp is no stranger to audio business, making audio components for decades. This year Sharp is introducing the innovative HT-SL77 2.1 system. The midrange and tweeter sections can be placed horizontally below the screen and comes with extensions to match the width of 46, 52, 60 or 70-Inch HDTVs. The HT-SL77 can also be separated into to sections as left and right vertical towers and includes an attachable base for each speaker. The height can be set to match 60 or 70-Inch flat panels.

The HT-SL77 also includes a wireless subwoofer. The HDMI output supports the Audio Return Channel feature found within 2011 and 2012 Sharp and many other major brand HDTVs to direct the audio from multiple HDMI sources such as HD cable box, game console and Blu-ray player to the sound bar seamlessly. The H-SL77 ships in April with a retail price of $449.99

Best 3D TV: LG 84″ LED 84LM9600

The LG 84LM9600 is loaded with industry firsts. It is the largest consumer flat panel HDTV being offered for sale. It is the first to offer a screen with four times the resolution of HDTV (3840×2160). LG calls it UHD. The cherry on top is the 84LM9600 is the first 3D TV using inexpensive, light weight passive 3D glasses to maintain Full HD vertical resolution (1080 as half of 2160), overcoming our biggest objection regarding passive 3D technology.

The 3D image is not only big, but bright and beautiful as it doesn’t have the visible lines when viewing 3D that to date has been associated with all other passive 3D TVs. Being the top series in LG’s 2012 LED LCD HDTV line this giant screen set includes Internet streaming and apps, LG’s best new Magic Motion remote with voice and gesture control. It all comes wrapped in a slim, brushed aluminum bezel. The 84 converts all content to its 4K resolution and will accept future 4K sources through its HDMI input. Scheduled for Spring release LG has not yet revealed pricing.

Best Blu-ray Player: Panasonic DMP-BBT01

The Panasonic DMP-BBT01 is like no other Blu-ray player Panasonic has ever produced. It is heavily featured with Panasonic’s latest video processor, offers Smartphone remote control capability, a new touchpad remote control, 3D disc play, 2D-to-3D up-conversion, and Internet streaming thanks to Panasonic’s VieraConnect system. The player comes wrapped in a new small slim design with a slot-in drive allows one to insert a disc without the need for a tray. TheDMP-BBT01 player comes with a stand and can be operated either vertically, or horizontally.

Best In Show: LG 55EM9600 55″ OLED

OLED (organic light emitting diodes) is the first new big screen flat panel tech since 1997. The LG 55EM9600 delivers everything big screen OLED promises, vivid color, fantastic contrast, 180 degree viewing angle and pitch black blacks. All coming from a 4mm thick design the OLED image beat out everything else at CES.

The LG 55-Inch 55EM9600 has two configurations. One is a table stand version with the speakers and electronics built into the base. The other, a wall mount version with the electronics and downward firing speakers housed within a backpack that sits between the wall and the screen. This OLED is a full featured HDTV with 1080p resolution, Smart TV with voice and gesture remote and 3D. Expect to see it yourself in Q3, at a priced to be announced.

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CES 2012 Sony’s HDTV Announcements

Gary — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 01:28:13 +0000

At CES 2012 Sony announced a dramatic shift in its television marketing, reducing the number of model series from six in 2011 to just four for 2012. The remaining series are the entry level BX, the step-up EX and the flagship HX models.

All but the entry BX will be 1080p with best in class black levels and will feature Sony’s X-Reality or X-Reality Pro signal processing, Motion Flow higher refresh rates and be connected to the Internet via Sony Entertainment Network and Yahoo apps according to an early Sony press release. The HX model will also feature Skype video.

Sony debuts a new Blu-ray player with Google android apps called the NSZ-GP9 and a Google media player called the NSZ-GP9. These are equipped with a new redesigned remote control for improved functionality and includes finger gesturing, backlight and motion sensing.

Sony introduced three new Blu-ray players with Wi-Fi. The BDP-S790 includes 4K upscaling but no word yet as to whether any of its new TVs will have 4K resolution.

Reports out of Japan indicate Sony is abandoning OLED HDTV in favor of its own new “Crystal LED” panel showing its first 55-Inch prototype at CES. This HDTV uses red, blue and green LEDs to create a picture with higher contrast, a wider color gamut and 10 times faster response rate than LCD. No work yet as to if and when a production model will appear. Keep checking for more CES news.

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Samsung OLED! (and LED, Plasma and more…)

Geoff Morrison — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 21:55:45 +0000

Samsung, today, unveiled a 55-inch “super” OLED flat panel TV. They also announced new LED LCD and plasma models.

What makes them “super?” What makes the LED and plasmas “new?”

All that, plus a lot of HD Guru-exclusive info, after the jump.

OLED!

Organic Light-Emitting Diode TVs offer the promise of the best picture quality ever (and yes, we’re including CRT). Long “vaporware” in the TV world, 2012 might be the year we see actual models. Samsung’s 55-inch model sure seems like the real deal… maybe. They’re promising a delivery in 2012, but at the moment there’s no pricing, release date, or even a model number. We remain optimistic, but skeptical. HDGuru was told it was advancements to the lifespan of the blue phosphor that allowed development of OLED into a real (potentially) product this year.

Here’s what we know:

“Super” in Samsung-parlance means red, green, and blue pixels. This is their way of pointing out that LG’s OLED uses “white” OLEDs and color filters.

Active 3D and 1080p

There will be a separate box with inputs and the power supply (similar to their C9000 LED LCD)

Media Hub, and Smart Interaction (more on this below)

UNES8000 Smart LED LCD

Whenever you see the “S” in the model number, this stands for “Slim” implying an ultra-thin bezel. The high-end, edge-lit ES8000 series will be available in 46, 55, 60, 65, and 75-inch models.

Smart Interaction, with an IR Blaster included to control other home theater gear.

Dual-core chipset for faster performance with apps.

Bluetooth 3D glasses, compatible with 2011 Samsung models (at least, those that had Bluetooth) along with BT-enabled TVs from Sharp, Sony, Panasonic, and XpandD. This year a more standard Bluetooth transmission technology is being used, so you can connect a BT keyboard and mouse for better web browsing.

At least 2 pairs of 3D glasses included, some models get 4.

“True” 240 Hz, plus a scanning backlight.

Available this spring.

PNE8000 Plasma Smart TV

Sizes will be similar with the new models: 51, 60, and 64-inches. The bezel is a bit smaller than 2011, but the depth remains at 1.5-inches.

The biggest news with the new plasmas is a 10% improvement in black levels, thanks to changes to software and hardware.

Smart Interaction

Available this spring.

Smart Interaction

Taking a cue from Xbox Connect, Samsung’s Smart Interaction promises a new way to interact with your television. There’s no wand, the TV sees/hears your commands. There’s Motion Control (physical gestures), Voice Control (two mics built-in for noise reduction), and even Face Recognition that can log you into Skype or apps with just your pretty mug. Samsung plans on releasing a software developers kit so 3rd parties can create apps that take advantage of the tech.

And even though the camera is always on (the better to see you with, my darling…) there is a manual shutter you can close so it’s not always looking at you.

Using the IR blaster, you could use Smart Interaction to control other pieces of gear in your system.

All very interesting… if it works.

Blu-ray

The only really big news on the BD front is “Disc-to-Digital” from Flixster. Despite a rather stupid name (discs are digital, duh), it’s an interesting concept. You give Flixster information on what movies you own on DVD or Blu-ray, and then you can stream those movies for a small initial “conversion” fee. Not limited to Blu-ray players, you can stream the movies from anywhere via the Flixster website.

Other features include a full web browser and WiFi.

Home Theater/Sound Bar

Not forgetting audio, the HT-E6730W is a 7.1-channel Blu-ray HTIB. The six satellites get 165 watts, the center and sub each get 170 for a system power rating of 1,330 watts. Built-in WiFi is cool, as is a proprietary vacuum tube amp technology.

The HW-E550 Surround sound bar is a bit of a transformer. You can put it below the TV, or split it in two and use it as two vertical speakers. Virtually creates 5.1 sound from its pair of 80-watt speakers. The included 150watt sub is wireless. More importantly it has 2 HDMI in, and one out.

Geoff Morrison @TechWriterGeoff
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CES 2012 LG’s HDTV Line

Gary — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:00:38 +0000

LG comes to Las Vegas with the most innovative and advanced HDTV models they ever produced. New technology offered in its 2012 model line includes the first large screen OLED HDTV, the first 84″ HDTV with 4K resolution and more.

All of LGs Internet connected Smart TVs have browsers and play flash and HDML5 content. All 1080p models use wide viewing angle in 2D IPS panels except the 65″ versions. The 3D models below the 6200 series come with four pair of 3D glasses while the models series above come with six pairs.

OLED

The LG 55EM9600 is the industry’s first announced 55-Inch Full HDTV. Just 4mm thin the EM9600 features Full HD 2D resolution and LG’s film pattern retarder 3D technology. This organic light emitting diode (OLED) TV uses a panel made up of over 8 million white led sub-pixels. On top of the panel is a filter with four sections- red, blue, green and clear (white). LG claims this design offers higher effiiciency and righer color. The panel is too thin for speakers, inputs or associated electronics. They are housed within a separate box sold with the TV. We will provide more information as it becomes available after the show opens.

4K HDTV

LG new 84″ LED LCD (84LM9600) breaks new ground in a number of ways. It is the largest consumer HDTV flat panel over offered, it is the first with 4K resolution of 3840 x 2160 and the first passive 3D TV to offer full HD vertical 1080p resolution, as all previous passive 3D models provide one-half (540 lines) vertical resolution when viewing in 3D mode. The LM9600 is an edge lit LED LCD

LED LCD

For 2012 LG has an extensive line of edge lit and back lit HDTVs. Here’s how they breakdown:

LS3500 series are 2D, 720p models with 60 Hz refresh rate. Screen sizes are 22, 26 and 32- Inches.

LS5600 series are edge lit 2D 1080p LED LCDs. Screen sizes are 32, 37, 42, 47 and 55-Inches. The 32 and 37-Inch models are 60 Hz refresh while all others are 120Hz.

LS5700 series are edge lit 2D 1080p LED LCDs with 120 Hz refresh, Smart TV with Internet browser and include LG’s wheel equipped Magic Motion remote control that uses movement for control (like a Wii remote). Screen sizes are 42, 47, 55 and 60-Inches

LM5800 series are edge lit 3D capable LED LCDs 1080p 120 HZ available in 42,47 and 55-Inch screen sizes

LM6200 has all the LM5800 features and adds Smart TV with browser and Magic Motion Remote control with wheel.

3D Smart TVs with Cinema Screen Design (pictured)

LM6700 include 120Hz refresh, Smart TV, LED Edge Lit design with dimming. 47 and 55 Inch screens are available.

LM7600 add scanning backlight to the 120 Hz refresh (they call it 240 Hz) to the 6700s features. Screen sizes are 47 and 55-Inches

LM8600 series adds a dual core processor for faster Internet page loading, and the ability to switch back and forth from apps to live TV, improved standard definition upconversion. Magic motion remote with voice control. Screen sizes are 47 and 55-Inch

LM9500 is a edge lit 120 Hz LED with scanning backlight with dimming, and Smart TV with magic Motion remote. It is available in the 72-Inch screen size, a first for the US market.

LM9600 is LGs top of the line LED LCD with full LED backlight with local dimming using its exclusive Nano technology . All series models include all LM8600 features (except the 4K).

Google TV

LMG620 (pictured) 1080p 120Hz edge lit LED LCD with Smart TV, Google TV apps and browser, Magic Motion remote with voice and wheel, LG and Google home screens. Available in Q1 with 47 and 55-Inch screen sizes

LMG860 adds Cinema screen design with full glass front and scanning LEDs for better motion resolution. Available in Q2 with 47 and 55-Inch screen sizes

LCDs

All LCD models below use standard CCFL backlighting.

CS 460 features 720p resolution and 60 Hz refresh in 32-Inch screen size

CS560 features 1080p resolution with 60 Hz refresh in 32, 37 and 42-Inch screen sizes

CS 570 is 1080p resolution with 120 Hz refresh in 42 and 47-Inch screen sizes.

Plasma

PA4500 720p 2D in the 42 and 50-Inch screen sizes.

PA4700 720p active 3D with 1 pair 3D glasses 42 and 50-Inch screen sizes.

PA6500 1080p 2D in the 50 and 60-Inch screen sizes

PA6700 1080p Full HD Active 3D, Smart TV magic motion remote optional 50 and 60Inch screen sizes

PA6900 1080p Full HD Active 3D, Touch screen Smart TV

PA9700 1080p Full HD Active 3D True Black filter with matte finish, new thin bezel design and 40% deeper black levels (photo)

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US Version of LG’s 55-Inch OLED HDTV Revealed-First Photos

Gary — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 03:01:57 +0000

LG just announced the future of television with the US introduction next month (Jan.) of its 55-inch class (54.6-inch diagonal) Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) display. LG USA senior vice president James Fishler calls it “the ultimate display device” stating “This next-generation display will further strengthen LG’s position as a true leader and trend-setter of the home entertainment industry. It is the TV of dreams.”

Designed to outperform every other TV technology, the upcoming 55EM9600′s OLED panel is self-illuminating and has the highest contrast ratio ever rated at 100,000,000 to 1. OLEDs are supposed to be capable extinguishing all light output down to the pixel level which means the blackest black ever reproduced. In addition, the OLED panel has a rated response time of .1 microseconds (a microsecond is one-millionth of a second) providing images without any motion blur. The 55EM9600 is Full HD 1080p resolution display.

The 55EM9600 incorporates LG’s Film Patterned Retarder technology for 3D images using cheap, lightweight passive glasses. LG’s new Triple XD Engine handles signal processing.

All of this packaged in a wafer thin design measuring just 4 millimeters (3/16th of an inch) deep. With such a svelte form factor the input board, power supply and signal processing need to be housed in separate box, an item LG would not comment on at this time. The 55″ OLED display weighs in at just 16.5 pounds making it ideal for wall mounting.

LG would not supply currently price or delivery aside from stating it is a 2012 product. Reports out of Korea say it will arrive in the 3rd quarter. Pricing has not been released. HD Guru predicts it will retail for $8,000 or more.

See the complete press release at our HD GURU3D website.

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HD Guru’s 2012 HDTV Predictions

Gary — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 21:58:39 +0000

With 2011 now in the history books, it’s time again to look forward to new HD home theater products. We’ve collected all our inside industry clues and trends to make 12 predictions for the HDTVs in the New Year.

And so you know we’re honest, we’ll begin with how we did on last year’s predictions.

2011 Recap

Our 2011 predictions lead with a forecast of lower priced 3D TVs and this came true in spades with significant price drops of all 3D sets with a number large screens breaking the sub-$1000 and even the sub $800 price level. 2D sets also dropped significantly, bringing historically the lowest prices ever such as 40-Inch LCDs for $299.

We correctly predicted new active 3D eyewear from vendors. Samsung, also as we predicted, switched away from infrared to RF sync.

We forecast larger than 70-Inch LCD panels and we were spot on with the introduction of Sharp’s 80-Inch LED LCD TV, although the first model was not 3D as we expected.

3D picture quality improved substantially, as we wrote. Passive 3D grew also as expected with TVs from LG
,Vizio, Toshiba and some no-name vendors as well. We missed the mark on Full HD active passive and it looks like that technology may not appear soon.

Plasma TVs got thinner in depth with skinnier bezels and better black level performance. LED LCD performance improved as we figured with the debut of the Elite by Sharp TVs.

We blew it on the new LCD panel tech predictions, with all companies carrying over their 2010 panel technology designs. Connected TV market penetration exploded with this feature appearing on many major manufacturers lines with the exception of entry level models. The technology also migrated to Blu-ray disc players and new freestanding boxes.

The number of Blu-ray 3D Discs increased exponentially, with over 150 titles now available. Samsung launched a 3D streaming site on its connected TVs too. Cable and satellite did not keep pace with any new 3D channels in 2011.

Onto 2012 predictions

OLEDs

1) 2012 will be the most significant year in TV display technology in 15 years! 1997 was the year Fujitsu introduced the world’s first large-screen flat-panel display, a 42″ 480p plasma TV. In 2012 LG and Samsung will introduce the revolutionary OLED HDTV technology in the 55″ screen size. OLED can produce high defintion images that outperform the best LED LCDs and plasmas. The most significant improvement is in contrast, which happens to be the most important characteristic for top image quality. Unlike any current plasma or LED LCD, the OLED can completely shut-off light emissions on a per-pixel basis. The result, in theory, is an infinite contrast ratio. However, marketing guys like numbers so you will see them in 80,000,000:1 range or higher. This improvement will be immediately noticeable in a dark viewing environment, but not in a store like Best Buy that’s lit like a Christmas tree.

In addition to perfect jet-black blacks against bright whites and vibrant colors, the OLEDs have other fine performance attributes. Motion blur is non-existent due to a response time measured in fractions of a microsecond (millionths of a second). By comparison, LED LCDs are measured in the number of milliseconds (thousandths of a second)

OLEDs are emissive displays, like plasmas and CRTs. Because of this, OLEDs have a near perfect 180 degree viewing angle without the color shift or contrast reduction seen on every LCD and LED LCD.

OLEDs have the thinnest form factor of any display technology. Look for depths of 4mm (3/16th of an inch) or less. That does create one problem, no room for the required power supply, tuner, and TV circuitry, so expect a separate box for inputs, switching and probably speakers.

OLED are by far the greenest TVs ever designed. We expect power consumption to be around one-half of the current large screen LED LCDs perhaps using a little as a 50 watt light bulb.

We predict LG and Samsung will ship 55-inch 3D ready product in the US in 2012. According to industry sources, Panasonic is converting one of its LCD plants into an OLED panel factory, although we are not certain its products will arrive in 2012. Sharp and Sony are also developing large screen OLED, though we don’t yet know when they will arrive to our shores.

Bigger is Better

2) According to a recent survey by NPD DisplaySearch, US consumers prefer bigger screens to smaller Internet streaming or 3D capable TVs. We predict the industry will respond with many 70-inch and larger sets for 2012. LG just announced an 84-incher (pictured below), and we expect even bigger, perhaps hitting or breaking the 90-inch class. A wide variety of vendors will offer TVs with 70-inch or larger screens, including some of the lesser-name brands like Vizio and Westinghouse. Others will join in along with the top-tier name-brand companies.

The Connected TV Evolution

3) While all the top-selling brands are currently offering Internet-connected TVs with streaming and apps, the rumored Apple iTV will launch in 2012, and will take Smart TVs to the next level. HD Guru predicts Apple will provide the biggest and widest selection of TV programming, giving consumers the first real opportunity to “cut the cable.”

The missing link on Smart TVs has been limited selection of TV programs that mimic the networks current fare. We see this product as the launching pad for streaming services that directly compete against cable and satellite.

We also predict cable companies will respond by charging consumers an additional “pay per bit” fee on top of the cost of Internet service if one should drop their cable service.

New Fangled Remote Controls

4) Look for remotes from a number of TV makers that will use voice, gestures, motion or other ways to better control the display device. LG has already announced its Magic Motion remote will incorporate voice control in select 2012 models. We expect the Apple iTV to take TV control functions where no set has gone before.

5) A number of the major TV makers will begin to offer large screens with resolutions four times HDTV (3840 x 2160). Standard and high definition will be internally upconverted to 4K resolution. Based on demonstrations we’ve seen,we have big doubts most consumers will see a significant difference between current high definition and SD upconverted programs, especially if the screen is less than 80-inches diagonal.

More 3D

6) The number of 3D disc titles will grow by well over 100% in 2012, with the arrival of more movies and new 3D-based content. Expect to see more 3D sports programs including the first NFL games and limited amounts of the Summer Olympics. More content will become available via Internet streaming as well. We predict the sports will renew interest in the format.

Glassesless 3D

7) First generation glassless 3D will arrive. We expect it will include eye tracking allowing a limited number of viewers to sit anywhere in the room and see the 3D effect. These sets will be top-of-the line LED LCDs, with 4K screens, Internet streaming and a long list of features .

Full Resolution Passive 3D

8) LG is on board, and we expect three or more other companies to offer 4K HDTVs that include passive 3D technology that uses the same lightweight cheap glasses as you get in many movie theaters. While all current passive HDTVs provide half the vertical resolution of active 3D HDTVs, the 4Ks will maintain Full HD resolution. We expect these TVs to be in the 60-inch and larger category.

Gen 3 Google TV

9) If you don’t succeed, try, try, again. The third iteration of Google TV will gain good reviews from reporters and consumers as a number major set makers begin to offer HDTVs that use its Internet platform. The TV makers will remain leery, given Google TVs poor track record in Sony TVs, their Blu-ray player and the Logitech Revue all of which failed in the marketplace in 2011. All TV companies offering the Google platform will sell it as a separate line of products rather than across the board to hedge their bets.

Another Major TV Brand Will Exit the Business

10) 2011 will go down as the year TV makers lost more money than ever before. We’ve already seen serious consolidation and dropouts with JVC selling its TV brand name to Taiwanese company AmTRAN in 2011. Sony’s recent announcement of the sale of its share of their joint LCD panel plant venture to partner Samsung is only the beginning. We predict at least one major TV brand will pull the plug on the US market in 2012 either with a complete exit or selling their name to a Chinese TV manufacturer.

Best Buy Will Change the Way It Sells TVs

11) Best Buy’s formula of large stores and non-commissioned TV salesman has resulted in it increasingly becoming Amazon’s showroom. This cannot and will not continue… but not as you might think. We boldly predict Best Buy will get rid of its TV sales staff and follow the Wal-Mart model of “grab-and-go.” Consumers grab the TV, pay, and go out the exit door. Salesman will become stock clerks as Best Buy changes into a more competitive warehouse/online retailer model by revamping the TV department into a self service type of operation. A number of its larger stores will be divided up or closed to cut costs in an effort to return to profitability.

Small and Medium Screen HDTV Prices Will Stabilize

12) The days of price erosion in the under-40-inch category will end as market demand picks up and the world economy stabilizes. TV makers can no longer afford to lose a billion or more dollars a year. The larger screens will continue to get cheaper with 60-inch models selling for the price of 2011 50-to-55-inch models, 70-inch product going for the price of 2011 60-to-65-inch product etc. All three remaining plasma makers (LG, Panasonic and Samsung) will continue to support the format with more emphasis on the larger screen models and product improvements as OLED sets will be very expensive for the next couple of years.

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LG Announces Worlds First 55-Inch OLED HDTV

Gary — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 02:54:32 +0000

Its official! As HD Guru predicted in its Dec. 7 article LG Korea today pre-announced the introduction of its 55-Inch OLED debuting at the upcoming 2012 International Consumer Electronic Show in Las Vegas, NV. on Jan 9, 2012. To see the Korean press release (translated into English) click on the highlighted “read more” key.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LG Display Announces World’s Largest OLED TV Panel

55” Panel to Advance Popularization of OLED TV Market

Seoul, Korea (December 26, 2011) – LG Display [NYSE: LPL, KRX: 034220], a leading innovator

of thin-film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) technology, today announced that it has developed the world’s largest 55-inch OLED(Organic Light Emitting Diodes) TV panel. The 55-inch panel is a significant step forward in the popularization of OLED TVs and demonstrates the effective application of AM OLED technology to larger panel sizes at a more cost efficient level.

“Our objective has always been to actively define and lead emerging display technology markets,” said Dr. Sang Beom Han, CEO and Executive Vice President of LG Display.

“Although OLED technology is seen as the future of TV display, the technology has been limited to smaller display sizes and by high costs, until now. LG Display’s 55-inch OLED TV panel has overcome these barriers.”

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Superior Image Quality in an Ultra Thin Design

LG Display’s 55” OLED TV panel produces remarkable image quality with no after image due to its high reaction velocity, as well as high contrast ratio of over 100,000:1 and wider color gamut than that produced by LCD panels. OLED, a medium that controls pixels is a departure from LCD panels which utilize liquid crystals.

The new technology allows light emitting diodes to self-generate light and features a reaction

velocity to electric signals over 1000 times faster than liquid crystal. The environmentally conscious will also appreciate LG Display’s 55” OLED TV panel. While light sources in backlight units, like LCD panels, must always be kept on, the OLED panel allows diodes to be turned on or off which enables lower power consumption than conventional LCD panels.

With no need for a special light source, LG Display’s 55” OLED TV panel is also able to utilize asimplified structure thinner than that of a pen (5mm), and lighter than LCD panels. The panel’sminimalist structure also allows for the realization of unique design elements.

Advancing the Popularization of OLED TVs

Although industry watchers anticipate OLED as the future of TV display, to date, the technology has faced challenges due to limitations on the sizes of displays it can be applied to and a high level of investment required. LG Display has successfully addressed these issues with its 55” OLED TV panel.

The panel adopts an Oxide TFT technology for backplane which is different from a LowTemperature Poly Silicon (LTPS) type generally used in existing small-sized OLED panels. TheOxide TFT type that LG Display utilizes is similar to the existing TFT process, with the simpledifference lying in replacing Amorphous Silicon with Oxide. Moreover, the Oxide TFT type produces identical image quality to high performance of LTPS base panels at significantly reduced investment levels.

Additionally, LG Display uses White OLED (WOLED). WOLED vertically accumulates red, green, and blue diodes. With white color light emitting from the diode, it displays screen information through color layers below the TFT base panel, which leads to a lower error rate, higher productivity, and a clearer Ultra Definition screen via the benefits of small pixels. Further, it is possible to realize identical colors in diverse angles via color information displayed through a thin layer. Lower electricity consumption in web browsing environments for smart TVs is another key strength of WOLED.

Showing at CES 2012

The world’s first 55” OLED TV panel from LG Display will be made available for showing to select media and customers at a private booth starting on January 9 in Las Vegas through the end of CES 2012.

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LG and Samsung’s 55″ OLED HDTVs Are Here… Almost

Gary — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 02:20:59 +0000

OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) HDTVs are widely regarded as the “holy grail” of displays: Brilliant, rich colors and jet-black blacks provide infinite contrast ratios. OLEDs have very wide plasma-like viewing angles exceeding any LCD. At less than 5 millimeters thick, they make other 2011 television seem fat. They even handle fast motion without blurring and have lower power consumption than any other TV technology.

According to our industry sources and recent reports out of Korea, Samsung and LG will offer these potentially amazing TVs in the US targeting the third quarter in time for the 2012 Summer Olympics next July.

Potential pricing and other info after the jump…

HD Guru has obtained data from marketing research firm DisplaySearch showing worldwide OLED TV production totals for the two companies to be just 50,000 in 2012. Some 20,000 units are allocated for the North American market. DisplaySearch predicts total 2012 OLED TV revenue at $278 millon.

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