CES 2008

Kenwood says its digital TV receiver will be on sale sometime in 2008.

(Credit: CNET Networks)

Piping content into the car is one of the main themes on the automotive beat here at CES 2008, and Kenwood is leading the charge when it comes to the next generation of in-car television. The manufacturer is partnering with consumer electronics giant LG on development of a terrestrial digital television (DTV) receiver that will enable car occupants to watch ATSC TV at highway speeds. To date, analog receivers have enabled reception of in-car TV but only up to limited speeds. The prototype receiver that Kenwood is showing here at CES is based on the MPH (mobile, pedestrian, handheld) mobile DTV system developed by LG, Harris Corporation, and Zenith. Kenwood said that it expects to have a production version of the receiver by the end of 2008, anticipating cutoff of the analog TV signal in February 2009.

LG Viewty

(Credit: Nicole Lee/CNET Networks)

Here's another phone that we won't be seeing stateside any time soon. We mentioned the LG Viewty a few months ago, and our good friends over at CNET U.K. have done a pretty positive review of the it, marveling over its 5-megapixel camera as well as its ability to upload directly to YouTube. The LG Viewty took center stage at the LG booth here at CES, with a large rotating display and lots of units out for people to play with. So we were eager to give it a good look for ourselves, and we have to admit that it lives up to the hype. Not only is it a pretty sexy device, it comes loaded with the aforementioned 5-megapixel camera certified by Schneider-Kreuznach, including ISO 800 and SmartLight for low-light conditions, image stabilizer, 120fps video recording, manual and auto focus, and even DivX Video Playback. If we weren't told this was a cell phone, we probably would've mistaken it for a camera. When asked if the Viewty was going to be available in the U.S., LG reps simply shrugged and claimed ignorance. Technically, you could get the Viewty and use it here, since it is a triband phone, but we would miss out on a lot of the Internet capabilities, and reception would be somewhat gimped. Oh well--maybe someday we'll get something just as cool. The LG Vu perhaps?

LG KS20

(Credit: Nicole Lee/CNET Networks)

The LG KS20 isn't a new phone by any means, but we're showing it off here because, well, we won't be seeing it stateside any time soon. That's right, the LG KS20 is a lovely looking touch screen Windows Mobile 6 smartphone that's intended only for the European and Asian markets at the moment. It has a large, 2.8-inch touch screen display, a 2.0-megapixel camera, high-speed 3G support, on-demand video and music, and of course, all the features of a Windows Mobile 6 smartphone, such as mobile e-mail and documents on the go. Technically, you might be able to get the KS20 unlocked and have it work stateside, but you might also be deprived of the high speeds. Look out for a review of the KS20 on either of our sister sites at CNET U.K. or CNET Asia.

LG watch phone

(Credit: Nicole Lee/CNET Networks)

Sure, it's not quite the one that Dick Tracy had, but LG showed off a prototype model of a watch phone here at CES. It sat behind a display case the whole time, but we did snag a few details about it: it will have Bluetooth, as well as text messaging. When asked how you would text message with it, the LG rep said that there's a scroll wheel at the bottom of the watch's face that'll let you scroll through letters and numbers. This sounds horrendously tedious, but at least making calls promises to be a bit easier--just pair it with a Bluetooth headset, and dial numbers using your voice. We have no other details other than that, though, and this is simply, as we said, a prototype.

LG Scoop

(Credit: Nicole Lee/CNET Networks)

The eagle eyed folks over at Engadget Mobile spotted this blue LG Rumor over at the LG booth and discovered that it is indeed the Alltel version of the LG Rumor, rebranded as the LG Scoop. We also went down to check the LG Scoop out, and it is indeed almost exactly the same as the Sprint version, complete with the hidden slide-out QWERTY keyboard and the 1.3-megapixel camera. No pricing and availability as yet, but it looks like the Scoop will come in both blue and orange.

LG AX565

(Credit: Nicole Lee/CNET Networks)

We spotted these new LG phones at the LG booth at CES, and so did the folks over at PhoneScoop. The LG AX565 clearly had Alltel branding and looks like a reworking of the LG Muziq but with the touch-sensitive music controls in an inset square instead. It has a 1.3-megapixel camera, an FM transmitter, stereo Bluetooth, and a microSD card slot.

LG Vu?

(Credit: Nicole Lee/CNET Networks)

Next, there's the LG Vu, which looks a whole lot like the Prada. We couldn't even get close enough to take a picture of it. It looks to be a GSM phone, so we're thinking it'll go to AT&T. Not much more information other than that, but we'll get back to you once we find out more.

MPH In-band Mobile DTV

(Credit: MPH Mobile DTV)

Even though we as a country still haven't quite caught on to the idea of ubiquitous mobile television, it appears that LG is stepping ahead anyway in its introduction of yet another standard for mobile TV. Called MPH, or Mobile Pedestrian Handheld, this standard utilizes bandwidth from the existing ATSC signal to broadcast live television to an MPH-compatible product, be it a cell phone, a laptop, or an in-car navigation system.

This sets it apart from other mobile TV standards right now -- both Qualcomm's MediaFLO (which is behind Verizon's V Cast TV) and DVB-H utilize their own frequencies and thus require their own infrastructure. LG hopes that the MPH standard's usage of the traditional ATSC signal will cost less to implement, with more coverage as a result.

A modified LG VX9400 using MPH mobile DTV

(Credit: MPH Mobile DTV)

The MPH in-band system was developed by LG, Zenith, and Harris, and it works like this: A local broadcaster will broadcast a live TV feed via their existing 6 Mhz, 19.39 megabit per second network through an MPH exciter, which is then received via an MPH-compatible device. LG had a few prototype devices up for display here at CES; a modified LG VX9400 (which is also compatible with Verizon's V Cast TV that uses the aforementioned MediaFLO standard), a handheld 4-inch widescreen display, a USB dongle to be used with a laptop, plus a Kenwood in-car receiver. The MPH standard can also transmit up to 140 miles per hour, which fits right into the in-car entertainment system.

LG handheld television with MPH Mobile DTV

(Credit: MPH Mobile DTV)

Right now, LG says that they're conducting trials of the MPH system in limited markets like Las Vegas, Chicago, and Washington D.C. They're definitely pushing this more for local stations, so that they can broadcast time sensitive content like news, weather, and sports. They're currently in talks with over 800 stations nationwide, and hope to launch a full product by early 2009.

LG75 LED-backlit LCD

(Credit: LG)

Today LG announced a total of eight (!) series of LCD televisions for 2008, all of which include the letters "LG" in the model number. The flagship model, the 47-inch 47LG75, is the company's first to include an LED-powered backlight. Samsung was the first large-screen LCD maker to mass-produce LED backlights with its LN-T81F series, of which we reviewed the 46-inch LN-T4681F, and in that model we really liked the improved contrast ratio caused by the LEDs' ability to turn off, and so produce a darker shade of black. The LG75 promises similar technology, and a similar six-figure contrast ratio spec, offering 128 separate diodes that can be "locally dimmed" (dimmed independently from one another) -- for the record, Samsung did not disclose the number of LEDs in its 81F series models. The LG75 also sports 120Hz technology and a host of other improvements, including an ISF mode that has a user-accessible color temperature adjustment with 10 separate grayscale points, which should help calibrators improve color accuracy.

LG did not announce pricing or availability on the 47LG75.

• 1,000,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio
• TruMotion 120Hz technology
• Invisible Speaker System
• Intelligent Sensor for automatic optimization of brightness and color
• 24p TruCinema
• ISFccc Calibration Ready
• Four HDMI with 1.3 Deep Color

LG's PG70 plasmas allow optional wireless connectivity.

(Credit: LG)

Following the footsteps of last year's Best of CES winner in the TV category, Samsung's FP-T94W series, LG this year is introducing its own wireless plasma TVs. The series is called PG70, and it includes the 50-inch 50PG70 and the 60-inch 60PG70. Yes, you'll still need to connect the power cord, but all those pesky audio-video connections can be moved to a separate AV transceiver box that networks with the panel over the 802.11n wireless standard. Judging from LG's claims regarding its similar wireless LCDs, the box can be set up to 50 feet from the panel and going wireless doesn't impact picture or sound quality. Unlike those LCDs and Samsung's units, however, the box on the PG70 series is optional (price TBD), so you can wait to invest in wireless.

These sets will carry THX Display certification, for what that's worth, when they ship in the third quarter of 2008--pricing was not disclosed at press time. Other notable improvements include an ISF mode that has a user-accessible color temperature adjustment with 10 separate grayscale points, which should help calibrators improve color accuracy.

PG70 key features (direct from the press release)

• Compatible with optional wireless tranceiver
• 802.11n Wireless System
• 1080p native resolution
• Invisible Speaker System
• 100,000-hour panel (approximately 30 years)
• Dual XD engine
• ISFccc Calibration Ready
• Four HDMI with 1.3 Deep Color, USB 2.0, and AV inputs

LG's LG71 series of wireless LCDs

(Credit: LG)

Among LG's numerous HDTV introductions at CES 2008, which include eight series of LCD HDTVs, one of which features an LED backlight, the company also introduced a series of wireless models. The LG71 series has two members, the 47-inch 47LG71 and the 52-inch 52LG71. According to the press release, "Its integrated 802.11n Wireless System allows a clean wall installation without down-converting signals. The unit comes with a separate wireless receiver with a 50-foot radius (approx.), allowing other devices to be placed nearby, hidden in a cabinet or entertainment console." These sets are the first wireless LCDs we've seen, although both LG (this year) and Samsung (last year) introduced wireless plasmas.

The LG71 series also sports 120Hz technology and a host of other improvements, including an ISF mode that has a user-accessible color temperature adjustment with 10 separate grayscale points, which should help calibrators improve color accuracy.

LG did not announce pricing or availability on the LG71 series.

• TruMotion 120Hz technology
• 802.11n Wireless System
• Invisible Speaker System
• Intelligent Sensor for automatic optimization of brightness and color
• 24p TruCinema
• ISFccc Calibration Ready
• Four HDMI with 1.3 Deep Color