CES 2007: HDTV Gets Bigger and Brighter

After the first day of CES press conferences, several key elements are already heating up in the TV area. To sum it up succinctly: LCD gets faster (thanks to 120Hz refresh rates, rather than the normal 60Hz), brighter and more colorful; LED backlights become more visible in rear-projection microsdisplay models and some LCD TVs; plasma gets bigger, sharper (1080p resolutions) and less reflective; and rear-projection microdisplays gets smaller (just 10 inches deep).

In general, HDTVs also get bigger, as several wish-list 100-inch flat-panel models are unveiled, though prices initially target billionaires. Poor millionaires will have to settle for more pedestrian 70-inch models, which have fallen dramatically in price (in LG's case, by 80 percent). But while each of the respective HDTV technologies — plasma, LCD, and rear-projection microdisplays — came out swinging for a knockout punch, it appears they'll all be standing at the end of the year.

Another theme at CES: content moves from the Internet (and, possibly, outer space) to the TV via various IPTV and Internet streaming initiatives, increasingly making the TV the primary display for movies, TV programs and computer-based content.

Here's a quick look at some of the major first-day announcements:

Sony: Unveiled two new Blu-Ray players under the Sapphire brand, which includes support for a wider color gamut (xvYCC, although Sony, of course, has its own nomenclature, which makes no more sense) enabled by HDMI 1.3 connections. Also, new Sony Bravia LCD TVs will be able to use an optional module to connect to the Internet to stream Internet video to the TVs (without needing a PC). Sony announced content deals with AOL, Yahoo and Grouper, the latter a video-sharing site it recently acquired. Well-heeled big-TV fans can opt for a $33,000 70-inch Bravia XBR2 model.

LG Electronics: So far stole the show with its new dual-format high-def DVD player, the $1,199 1080p Super Multi Blue BH100 Blu-Ray/HD DVD combo player (pictured above). It'll be available at the end of the month (meaning it's real). Compromises include lack of support HD DVD's iHD interactivity (it instead generates its own menu system, and doesn't support other interactive HD DVD features), as it uses Blu-Ray Java-based interactivity. It also lacks the new HDMI 1.3 connector (it uses the HDMI 1.2 instead). But if you've been holding off on buying an HD disc player because you didn't want to have to choose between HD DVD and Blu-Ray, you now have a real option. The company also showed a PC drive/writer, called the Super Multi Blue drive, which can play Blu-Ray and HD DVD discs and record to Blu-ray discs. It's the same price as the player. LG also showed off their 100-inch LCD, and has lopped 80% off the $70,000 price of its 71-inch plasma, which is now $15,000. LG’s premium plasma line-up includes 50-, 60- and 71-inch units with 1920 x 1080 (1080p) resolution, and HDMI and component inputs at 24, 30 and 60 frame rates. All have piano-black finishes.

Panasonic: Spent 40 minutes trashing LCD technology by touting plasma's superiority (it offers a 103-inch plasma for $70,000; billionaire Marc Cuban bought one, see?), then noted it also sells LCD TVs. Want one?

Sharp: Whipped out the biggest LCD TV, a whopping 108-inch Aquos model that ships this summer at a yet-undisclosed price; unveiled a D92 series of 42- to 52-inch models ($3,500 to $5,200) with 120Hz refresh rates and claimed 4ms response times.

Samsung: Moved full-speed ahead with LED backlighting in both 81-Series LCDs and in several new ultra-slim (10-inch) rear-projection DLP sets (HL-T5087S, HL-T5687S and HL-T6187S). Premium 1080p LCD models are now in 40-, 46- and 52-inch sizes. The company also showed a new Blu-ray layer — the BD-P1200 — which has an HQV video processor, which can upscale standard DVDs to 1080p -- built in.

Pioneer: Along with Panasonic, Pioneer is flying the "plasma is best" flag, but is actually backing it up with some breakthrough display technologies. The company has re-engineering its panels, the color filter and the ASIC video processor, which will provide what SED technology has been promising for years: much deeper blacks, richer, wider colors, and better contrast. The first TVs using this new technology will hit this summer at a yet undisclosed price.

Toshiba: Surprisingly quiet about its rear-projection microdisplay models — and not showing SED at all — Toshiba touted its 14-bit (rather than 8-bit) PixelPure video processing in its four new 720p Regza LCDs (26-, 32-, 37- and 42-inches).  There's also a new 52-inch 1080p display in the HL167 line. Perhaps most notable, four new 1080p Cinema Series Regzas will hit in June (screen sizes are 42, 46, 52 and 57 inches). The sets will sport 120Hz refresh rates, Ethernet ports and HDMI 1.3 connectors.

Westinghouse Digital: Launched a more advanced new line of TX Series 1080p LCD HDTV’s. The line consists of the 42” TX-42F430S LCD HDTV (available April, $1,999); the 47” TX-47F430S (April, $2,499); and the 52” TX-52F480S, available in may, price not yet announced.

— James K. Willcox