CES 2008

Hitachi's LCDs are just 1.5 inches thick.

(Credit: Hitachi)

The whirlwind of CES 2008 is finally over, and now that we've had a few seconds to gather our thoughts, let's reflect on some of the major HDTV trends we observed at the show.

Thin is in

Flat-panels are popular for a reason, and part of it is people love thin screens. While plenty of people are satisfied with standard 6-inch-deep screens, HDTV companies are betting there's a market for ultrathin sets measured in millimeters rather than inches. The most impressive thin TV tech we saw was Pioneer's "Project Kuro" prototype plasma, which measures only 9mm thin, but unfortunately won't be released in 2008. On the more conventional side, JVC announced the "world's thinnest" LCD--coming in at 2.9 inches deep--while LG showed off an even thinner 1.9-inch thick LCD with a hole in it. Trumping both JVC and LG was Hitachi, with its new superslim LCDs measuring only 1.5-inches thick--although they ditch an internal ATSC tuner to do so. And, of course, no mention of thin HDTV would be complete without OLED...

Sony's 11-inch OLED is coming to the states this year.

(Credit: Sony)

OLED is coming

Sony made a big splash by showing off the 11-inch XEL-1, which will be the first OLED HDTV available in the United States and measures just 3mm thick. Samsung also had a 31-inch prototype OLED on display and there's no doubt the OLED technolgy is promising: razor thin screens, low power consumption and an excellent contrast ratio. At this early point in the game OLED isn't commercially viable--Sony's 11-inch set will cost $2,500--but as prices drop and screen sizes increase, OLED could be a major flat-panel TV technology.

WebTV all over again?

Bringing the web to your TV sounds like an idea better suited to CES 1995 rather than CES 2008, but we saw a lot of HDTV manufacturers promoting their sets' ability to grab content off the internet. HP, which has been a step ahead of everyone in this regard, announced an update to its existing MediaSmart HDTVs. Sharp is promising the ability to check weather and stock quotes on certain LCDs, while Samsung is focusing on recipes, artwork and RSS feeds. And Sony is continuing to support its Bravia Internet Video Link service, which at least looks slightly more interesting now that Sony's announced a deal with CBS.

RPTV is (mostly) dead

Mitsubishi's trio of laser TVs hang on the wall.

(Credit: Mitsubishi)

Some of the biggest HDTV news at CES 2008 was what wasn't there. Rear-projection HDTVs (RPTVs) were basically nowhere to be seen on the show floor, and just a week before CES started Sony announced that it would officially stop producing RPTVs altogether. While the general buzz is that RPTVs are essentially dead, that didn't stop Mitsubishi from launching a big laser TV demo--which was short on details and did little to convince us that laser has a real shot to dismount flat panels as the dominant HDTV technology.

The 42PFL5630D uses less power than any 42-inch LCD we've seen.

(Credit: Philips)

Green machines

While we were expecting to see more green HDTVs this year, we're betting Philips is in front of the curve on power-saving TV tech. The power-savings innovations on the Philips' Eco TV was enough to earn it CNET's Best in Show award and it uses less power than any other 42-inch LCD we've tested. In addition to using less watts, the Eco TV is produced using only lead-free materials and "trace" amounts of mercury. With a very reasonable $1,400 price tag, the Eco TV could be a big hit with consumers looking to control their energy costs--and if so, we'll see more green TVs from other companies.

(Credit: Phil Hester)

CES is an overwhelming collection of screens, beckoning to thousands of attendees as the bright portals to our entertainment, information, and one another anywhere in the world. Whether designed for the home, office, car, or on the go, those screens range in size, quality, resolution, and function.

In previous CES years, the focus of most display makers was size. It seemed that each year we saw progressively larger screens, far beyond a size reasonable for the average consumer. Display makers jockeyed for size-based bragging rights. This year, the focus evolved to screen quality, whether it's 1080p, reduced motion blur, improved contrast range (some up to 1,000,000:1), or a broader color palette. As HD technology becomes more pervasive and personal, image quality is vividly increasing as prices come down.

Don't get me wrong, there's still plenty to see if you're looking for a huge TV. Case in point, Sharp showcased a 108 inch TV "wall" with incredibly crisp resolution and vivid color, while Panasonic unveiled a 150 inch TV with outrageously high resolution. While most consumers won't buy a TV that large, the technology will help to evolve the existing products so that resolution and display quality continue to increase, while weight, screen thickness, and price decrease.

(Credit: Phil Hester)

At the opposite end of the spectrum are the small screens of personal technology devices like the iPod or Zune. These devices are creating a huge market for accessories and components that work in tandem with those devices. For example, wearable technologies are available that allow users to view the small screen content on a "larger" display (check out the photo of the "sunglasses" that mimic a 52-inch viewing experience). The essential point here is that these technologies are also dropping in price (the pictured glasses cost around $200), which will make the technology attainable for mainstream audiences.

And screens are no longer just for viewing. More and more, we're using touch-screen technology to make devices more functional and intuitive. Touch-screen remotes, navigation systems, and cell phones are making technology easier to use for average consumers.

The focus on image quality and energy efficiency (more on that later), and new innovations such as Sony OLED should drive down average price points and make rich, crisp displays available to more and more people.

Phil Hester is senior vice president and chief technology officer (CTO) at AMD, responsible for setting the architectural and product strategies and plans for AMD's microprocessor business.

The Vizio SV47LF features a 120Hz refresh rate.

(Credit: Vizio)

Anyone who's purchased an HDTV is aware that manufacturers are always trying to persuade buyers to purchase the higher-end models. The most popular step-up feature over the past few years has been 1080p resolution--despite the fact that it's not much better than 720p--but now that 1080p has become passe, 120Hz refresh rate is one of the newest buzz terms. Not to be left out of the feature wars, Vizio has announced a new line of 1080p LCDs featuring 120Hz technology, called the "Black Tie" series, which includes the 42-inch SV42LF and the 47-inch SV47LF.

On top of just having a faster refresh rate, these new sets also include de-judder processing, which Vizio refers to as MEMC (Motion Estimation, Motion Compensation). De-judder processing has the effect of smoothing out some of the jerkiness that often occurs on slow panning shots, although not everyone likes the effect--some complain that it makes film have a "video" look. The connectivity of these sets is highlighted by four HDMI inputs, two of which are located on the side. These side HDMI inputs are considered "Game Ports," for easily connecting hi-def game consoles like the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3. Vizio did not mention if these series will include a "game mode" that bypasses video processing, which some gamers desire because it reduces lag time.

The new SV42LF and SV47LF are scheduled to be released in July 2008 with list prices of $1,500 and $1,900, respectively.

Mitsubishi's trio of laser TVs hang on the wall.

(Credit: Mitsubishi)

While rear-projection seems to be losing steam, Mitsubishi is doing its best to breathe new life into non-flat HDTVs with its introduction of the world's first model with a picture powered by a laser-based light engine. Unfortunately, the product's smoke-and-hyperbole-filled introduction at the Palms hotel's Rain nightclub, while long on lighting effects, was short on details. Pricing and available screen sizes were not announced -- only that the product will hit the market this year.

Watch the Mitsubishi Laser TV video on CNET TV.

... Read more

The VK series

(Credit: Westinghouse)

Westinghouse has unveiled two new model lines for its 2008 LCD HDTVs. The VK and TX series of flat panels both sport 1,920x1,080 resolutions allowing support for up to 1080p.

The VK series offers four HDTVs with 42-inch to 47-inch screen sizes and range in price from $1,099 to $1,499. Standing out among the VK series is the VK-42F240S 42-inch LCD HDTV that offers four HDMI inputs compared with the rest of the line's two HDMI inputs. The VK series will be available to consumers in March 2008.

The TX series

(Credit: Westinghouse)

The step-up TX series offers three HDTVs with screen sizes ranging from 42 inch to 52 inches. All TX models feature four HDMI inputs and also accept 1080p HD signals through their component video inputs--useful if you have an older, pre-HDMI Xbox 360. Varying in price from $1,199 to $2,499, the TX series will also be available in March 2008.

(Credit: Westinghouse)

Westinghouse Digital is showing off a wireless LCD flat-panel TV here at CES--but the model is currently targeted for use in the digital signage market. The LCD uses PulseLINK's integrated CWave UWB (ultrawideband) Wireless HDMI protocol to broadcast a full bandwidth HD video signal from a separate base station (to which the video sources are connected). As a result, the only wire needed for the panel is the power cord--a near ideal solution for store windows and other retail locations where clutter and wires are unacceptable. Westinghouse is touting the commercial applications now, with hopes that the technology will soon be able to trickle down to consumers' living rooms in the near future. In the meantime, we'll take the opportunity to remind the company that this "first fully integrated wireless HDTV" was actually beaten to the market by Samsung wireless plasma TV, which was announced at CES 2007--and has been available at Best Buy for the past few months.

After a full day roaming the Consumer Electronics Show floor, I have to say the most mind-blowing thing I saw was the dual-view and 3D high-definition technology called DLP, made by Texas Instruments. This technology is being rolled out in Mitsubishi and Samsung televisions.

These are not flat-screen models, but thicker projection TVs. I was initially stopped in my tracks by the amazing image on a 73-inch model. They showed Shrek on the demo reel, and I have to say, the detail in the animation was incredible. I could see the sugar crystals sparkling on the Gingerbread Man's gumdrops. (They also showed Transformers, and it was very manly and explosive. Looked good too. DLP has a very fast refresh rate, so it is well-suited for action.)

Hitachi's 1.5 LCDs are just that thick.

(Credit: Hitachi)

Having already debuted its line of ultraslim, flat-panel LCD-based HDTVs in Singapore and Japan, Hitachi finally announced its availability stateside at CES. The models, which comprise three separate series of three screen sizes each, all have a depth of 1.5 inches, which is the thinnest we've seen from any flat-panel LCD. The closest competitor among announced (non-concept) models is LG's 42LGX Super Slim (1.75 inches), which joins the Hitachis in trumping JVC's "world's thinnest" (2.9 inches) models and the current champ, Sharp's LC-D64U series (3.25 inches). Personally, we don't see much use in making current inches-thin flat-panel displays a couple inches thinner, but there's no denying that trend, embodied in extreme by models like Sony's OLED (3mm) and Pioneer's concept plasma (9mm).

Watch the LGX Super Slim HDTV video on CNET TV.

Hitachi packed a passel of features into its slim LCDs. The 37- and 42-inch models from each series include 1080p resolution as well as the company's version of 120Hz technology with de-judder, which Hitachi calls "Reel20." We've reviewed similar technology in models from Sony, Toshiba and Samsung, for example, and we're curious to see how the Hitachi version stacks up.... Read more

Philips 120Hz-equipped PFL7403 series lacks Ambilight backlighting...

(Credit: Philips)

Although they won't have all the eco-friendly chops featured on the company's entry-level LCD, the most-expensive LCD HDTVs announced by Philips at CES this year do include 120Hz technology with de-judder, the company's first attempt at such video processing. The technology, dubbed HD Digital Natural Motion (HD DNM) with. Motion Estimation Motion Compensation (MEMC) as part of the company's Pixel Plus 3 HD package--got all that?--joins similar technologies we've reviewed from Sony, Toshiba, and Samsung.

... Read more

The 42PFL5630D uses less power than any 42-inch LCD we've seen.

(Credit: Philips)

At CNET, we take HDTV power consumption seriously, which helps explain our excitement when Philips announced its Eco TV. The 42-inch, 1080p resolution, flat-panel LCD, model 42PFL5603D (due in March, $1,399 MSRP), is packed with power-saving features.

Watch the Philips 42PFL5603D Eco TV video on CNET TV.

Chief among them is the ability to dim the backlight--by up to five times peak brightness--in response to program material, much like the "local dimming" found on Samsung's LED-based LN-T4681F. Dimming the backlight in darker scenes has the dual benefit of saving power and improving black-level performance, according to the company. The backlight can also be dimmed via a room lighting sensor, so in dark rooms it will use less power. There's also traditional a "power-saving" mode that caps the peak light output. ... Read more