CES 2009: LG's 12 new HDTVs, 'Netcast,' Blu-ray, LED backlight tech [day 2]

As I mentioned yesterday at the underwhelming CES Unveiled, LG had some new models to announce, and specs have finally been released: nine new LCD HDTVs and three new plasma HDTVs from 19 to 60 inches, some using LED backlight technology for those HDTVs, and some using "Netcast," a way the company will stream "broadband HDTV" (think Netflix).

It's all about svelte silhouettes and streaming content this year.

First up: the new LCDs, touting thinness, wireless access, and a new way to calibrate them.

All of LG's new LCD HDTVs use the Super In Plane Switching (S-IPS) panel structure, which the company says provides faster response times and better color and contrast, "even at the most extreme off-axis viewing angles."

LHX Slim Wireless LED Backlight HDTV (55 in.) A CES 2009 Innovations honoree and the big boy I photographed last night at CES Unveiled, LG's LHX offers good picture quality packed into an ultra-slim design – less than one-inch thick at its thinnest point. The LHX uses an array of LED backlights that employ local dimming techniques for precise picture control. The result? Deeper blacks, wide color gamut and smooth motion, and 240Hz performance.

The stats:

• Full HD 1080p via Uncompressed Wireless Transmission from media box • TruMotion 240 Hz • LED backlighting with Local Dimming • 2,000,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio • 24p Real Cinema (5:5 Pulldown) • Intelligent Sensor • ISFccc Ready • Four (4) HDMI V. 1.3 with Deep Color • USB 2.0 for access to digital music and photos (MP3, JPEG) • LG SimpLink™ (HDMI-CEC) • Smart Energy Saving Plus • LG Core Technologies

Click for the rest of LG's new LCDs and their new plasma models, plus new Blu-ray players...

LH90 LED Backlight HDTV (55, 47 and 42 in.): Same functionality as the LHX minus the seperate set top box.

LH85 Wireless Full HD 1080p HDTV (55 and 47 in.): An uncompressed wireless system and Full HD 1080p from a separate media box, with the goal of ridding of messy wires and cables.

Stats:

• Full HD 1080p via Uncompressed Wireless Transmission from media box. • TruMotion 120Hz • Intelligent Sensor • 24p Real Cinema • Four (4) HDMI V.1.3 with Deep Color • ISFccc Ready • USB 2.0 for access to digital music and photos (MP3, JPEG) • LG Simplink™ (HDMI-CEC) • Smart Energy Saving Plus • LG Core Technologies

LH55 Full HD 1080p LCD HDTV with Scanning Backlight (55, 47, 42 and 37 in.): LG's "TruMotion 240Hz" uses a unique scanning backlight technique to improve motion picture response time.

The stats:

• Full HD 1080p • TruMotion 240Hz • Intelligent Sensor • 24p Real Cinema • Four (4) HDMI V.1.3 with Deep Color • ISFccc Ready • USB 2.0 for access to digital music and photos (MP3, JPEG) • Smart Energy Saving Plus • LG Core Technologies

LH50 Full HD 1080p LCD HDTV with NetCast Entertainment Access (47 and 42 in.): The company's first ever HDTV with Ethernet connectivity. Offers access to Netflix Instant Streaming, Yahoo! Widgets, YouTube, and can also access music and photos stored on a home PC.

The stats:

• Full HD 1080p • TruMotion 120Hz • ISFccc Ready • Intelligent Sensor • 24p Real Cinema (5:5 Pulldown) • USB 2.0 for access to digital music and photos (MP3, JPEG) • Four (4) HDMI V.1.3 With Deep Color • Smart Energy Saving Plus • LG Core Technologies

LU55 Stylish LCD HDTV Series (26, 22 and 19 in.): Smaller screens intended for home offices, kitchens or bedrooms.

Specs:

• 26- and 22-inch sizes are Full HD 1080p, 19-inch has 720p HD Resolution • Transparent design

LH40 Full HD 1080p LCD HDTV Series (55, 47, 42, 37 and 32 in.): With "Invisible Speaker System" and the company's TruMotion 120Hz and S-IPS tech to fight motion blur.

Specs:

• Full HD 1080p • Three (3) HDMI (V.1.3 with Deep Color) • Intelligent Sensor • 24p Real Cinema (5:5 Pulldown) • ISFccc Ready • LG SimpLink™ • USB 2.0 for access to digital music and photos (MP3, JPEG) • Smart Energy Saving Plus • LG Core Technologies

LH30 Full HD 1080p LCD HDTV Series (47, 42, 37 and 32 in.): Also with Invisible Speakers.

Specs:

• Full HD 1080p • Super IPS Panel Technology • ISFccc Ready • LG SimpLink™ • USB 2.0 for access to digital music and photos (MP3, JPEG) • 24p Real Cinema (2:2 Pulldown) • Three (3) HDMI™ (V.1.3 with Deep Color) • Smart Energy Saving

LH20 LCD HDTV Series (42, 37, 32, 26, 22 and 19 in.): Straightfoward, no-frills consumer models.

Specs:

• 720p HD Resolution • Two (2) HDMI™ (V.1.3 with Deep Color) • ISFccc Ready • Smart Energy Saving • LG SimpLink ™ (32-inch and above) • LG Core Technologies (32-inch and above)

 

Next up: Three new plasma HDTVs touting improved brightness, reduced reflectivity and fast response time with 600Hz smooth motion. The 1080p series (PS60, PS80) features THX Display Certification as well.

PS80 Full HD 1080p Plasma HDTV with NetCast Entertainment Access (60 and 50 in.): LG's first plasma HDTV with Ethernet connectivity allows consumers to access Netflix Instant Streaming, Yahoo! Widgets, YouTube and can also access music and photos stored on a home PC.

Specs:

• Full HD 1080p • THX Display Certification and THX Cinema Mode • THX Media Director • Super Bright Panel • 600Hz Smooth Motion • Four (4) HDMI (V.1.3 with Deep Color) • ISFccc ready • USB 2.0 for access to digital music and photos (MP3, JPEG) • LG SimpLink™ Connectivity • Smart Energy Saving • LG Core Technologies

PS60 Full HD 1080p Plasma HDTV Series (Class Sizes: 60 and 50 in.): The PS60 series goes the fashion route and features "a unique single-layer design that gives the appearance of a pane of glass" with a variety of bezel colors to choose from.

Specs:

• Full HD1080p • THX Display Certification and THX Cinema Mode • Super Bright Panel • 600Hz Smooth Motion • Four (4) HDMI (V.1.3 with Deep Color) • USB 2.0 for access to digital music and photos (MP3, JPEG) • Smart Energy Saving • LG SimpLink™ Connectivity • LG Core Technologies

PQ30 Plasma HDTV Series (Class Sizes: 50 and 42 in.): No-frills bargain units.

Specs:

• 720p HD Resolution • 600Hz Smooth Motion • Three (3) HDMI (V.1.3 with Deep Color) • USB 2.0 for access to digital music and photos (MP3, JPEG) • Auto Volume Leveler II • Smart Energy Saving • LG SimpLink™ Connectivity • LG Core Technologies

Finally, Blu-ray. 

LG has introduced two new Network Blu-ray Disc Players: BD370 and BD390. Using the "Netcast" tech prevously mentioned in the HDTV news, LG is pushing streaming video hard, claiming 14,000 titles thanks to a partnership with CinemaNow.

The players:

LG BD370 Network Blu-ray Disc Player – Offers broadband connectivity and advanced audio capabilities with audio format decoding such as Dolby TrueHD/Digital Plus and DTS-HD.

Specs:

• Full HD 1080p Blu-ray disc playback with BD-Live and BonusView
• NetCast™ Entertainment Access
  • Netflix instant streaming ready
  • Instant access to the latest movie titles from CinemaNow
  • A world of entertainment options with YouTube access

• 1080p Upscaling for standard DVD
• Dolby® TrueHD
• DTS-HD Master Audio Essential
• USB Media Host
• Availability: Second quarter of 2009

LG BD390 Network Blu-ray Disc Player – Boasts the same core functionalities of the BD370 but intergrates wireless home networking with 1GB of built-in memory (hello, BD-Live!). Also has discrete 7.1 channel audio outputs. Availability: third quarter of 2009.

So what's it all mean? Well, it continues to get easier to get an HDTV -- and they're getting much thinner, too. LG's clearly experimenting with streaming HD video -- which could bring bad news to Blu-ray fans, whose technology may get skipped over rather quickly. Then again, they've got new Blu-ray models, too. Can streaming video and Blu-ray discs get along?

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