Okay, so this is pretty much the coolest TV I’ve seen–ever. Two models of the BeoVision 4 HDTV from Bang and Olufsen have already been announced. They measured in at 50 and 65-inches. But this latest HDTV clocks in at a whopping 103-inches. Yes, you read that correctly!
It’s 54-inches, it’s plasma, it’s just 1-inch thick and it’s got wireless HDMI – are you really all that surprised that the Panasonic Z1 Plasma HDTV is expensive? Early pricing for the Panasonic TC-P54Z1 suggests it’ll cost a cool $5,999.95 when it begins shipping in June.
After rumors on Friday that LG were considering withdrawing from the plasma HDTV business, LG have been quick to quash speculation. According to the company’s press release, LG will not only continue to make plasma sets but are aiming to increase their market share, focusing on 50-inch and larger sets where plasma still ousts LCD and demand is, apparently, higher.
LG are considering withdrawing from the plasma TV business, if costs continue to eclipse waning profits. Vice-president of the company Lee Gyu-hong told Kyodo News that, if LG can’t find a way to bring down development and manufacturing expenses, they are likely to announce their exit-strategy by the end of 2009.
Appalling news for big-screen plasma TV fans, as Pioneer announce their intention to withdraw from the HDTV business and concentrate instead on car and home audio, DJ equipment and cable TV boxes. The news comes as the company reveals it expects a 130 billion yen ($1.44bn) net loss, with the restructuring – which will see plants in the UK and US closed, product development axed and around 10,000 employees jobless – aimed to complete by March 2010.
LG Korea have been flaunting their latest plasma HDTVs, the entertainingly-named Xcanvas “bobos” PDP TV 50PQ60D and 42PQ60D. On sale in Korea in twenty days time, the 50-inch and 42-inch sets have incredibly high contrast and response rates, the former being an unbelievable 1,000,000,000:1 and the latter 600MHz. There’s also an ambient light sensor that, by automatically dimming the backlight, can save up to 60-percent of the energy the HDTVs normally use.
LG today announced their 2009 ranges of LCD and plasma HDTVs, with twelve new product lines and a total of 36 new models. Ranging in size from 19-inches to 55-inches on the LCD side, 23 of which support full 1080p High-Definition, together with 42-inch to 60-inch in the plasma ranges, four of which support 1080p, the HDTVs offer a range of technology from LG’s core Invisible Speakers, AV Mode II, Clear Voice II and Picture Wizard systems, standard on all sets, to select models with TruMotion 240Hz and LED Mega Contrast.
LG today announced their new NetCast Entertainment Access system that brings Yahoo!, Netflix and YouTube content directly to selected models in the company’s HDTV range. Both LCD and plasma TVs with the NetCast technology will be available, starting with the 47- and 42-inch LH50 LCD models and 60- and 50-inch PS80 plasma models.
Plasmas TV are known for burn in and a hole in your pocket but those were the concerns in the past. Newer Plasmas have come equipped with burn-in reduction features such as screensavers or pixel wobbling to shift the pixel on the screen at set intervals. Better yet, the Plasma Display Coalition (PDC) has announced that new plasmas from the Big Four are now tree-hugger; the LCD alternates from Hitachi, LG Electronics, Panasonic and Pioneers’ have been certified to meet new Energy Star rating requirements.
Discussions about the Pioneer KURO plasma HDTV range and color tends to be in hushed tones about the super-sets’ class-leading picture quality. Now it might be about how well they blend into your living room, with the announcement of limited edition white and beige versions of the 50-inch 1080p KRP-500A.
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