LG will show off 84-inch 4k LCD 3D HDTV at CES 2012

LG sure has a big show in store for CES next month. First, the company announced that it will exhibit its long-awaited 55-inch OLED TV, and next it has disclosed that it will also display an 84-inch 3D LCD that features 4k resolution.

Granted, some will quibble that 3,840x2,160 HDTV isn't technically "4k," though that might be the least of the issues with the short-term commercial viability of such a set. There's little compatible content, though LG is hyping its 3D functionality -- "the most convincing 3D viewing experience currently available outside of a movie theater" -- since no TV channels in the U.S. show anywhere close to 4k resolution with their programming. As for the cost: if analysts are estimating $8,000 for the 55-inch OLED, you can probably assume a price in the same ballpark for a huge 4k set.

Of course, LG hasn't announced that the set is anywhere near being available, and it hasn't disclosed a price. But the 4k trend may eventually have a better chance of attracting consumer attention than 3D, since there are no dorky glasses to wear and the difference in resolution could be dramatic (that is, if you have a big enough room to house such a large set and to let viewers sit far away enough from the TV). At least we should have a number of first-hand viewing reports from CES.