If you haven't bought a new TV set for a good 4 or 5 years, then 2010 is the year to do so. The future of TV sets is about improved quality, slimness and 3D capability. CES 2010 in Las Vegas came to an end on the 10th of January. After taking a close look at the HDTVs on display, we've outlined the trends predicted for 2010 and shortlisted this year's most exciting launches.
After a year of speculation, top TV manufacturers confirmed that 2010 will be the year of 3D television - with manufacturers like LG, Sony, Samsung and Toshiba announcing that 3D TV sets will be on sale in the UK by April. With Sky announcing that 3D broadcasting will be available by October, we strongly recommend that if you are planning on investing in a new HDTV set, go for a 3D one.
OLED is also set to be the next big thing in picture quality. The only problem is that manufacturers like LG can only make OLED TV as big as 15 inches; however we expect to see bigger sets over the next few years as the technology inevitably advances. OLED (which stands for Organic Light Emitting Diode) produces super crisp pictures with unbelievable quality and definition.
So, that's enough small talk. Let's get down to our list of best HDTV's set to hit the shops in 2010...
LG Infinia LE9500 3D-Ready LED TV
For those who were lucky enough to be at this year's CES will testify that LG's 6.9mm model is the world's thinnest LED TV. LG's Infinia LE9500 3D-Ready LED TV comes equipped with an arsenal of innovations that includes 3D-Ready support, Skype capabilities and streaming media from Netflix, VUDU, YouTube, Napster and Yahoo! Widgets.. With this model, LG have broken conventions of LED TV design by transforming the screen into the actual speakers - which allows it to be so thin without compromising sound quality.
Toshiba Cell TVs
Besides using the same type of processor used in the PlayStation 3 and offering native 3D capability, Toshiba has packed its next generation of HDTVs with every feature we ever dreamed of. Toshiba also claims that, thanks to a new technology called TriVector Cell, TV series will be able to convert 2D content into 3D content in real time. No demo was available so we'll have to hold off our judgement for now.
Samsung LED 9000 Series
The 900 series is the next gen of Samsung's LED LCD TVs and the flagship model the Samsung C9000 is perhaps one of the slickest TV sets we've ever set eyes on. Just so you can comprehend the C900's sleekness: the model is the same width as a number two pencil. The Samsung C900 is of course 3D, and is also capable of converting 2D content into 3D, again no demo was available.
LG 15-inch OLED TV
Despite its size, the LG 15-inch OLED TV is the biggest possible OLED TV to date, but give a few more years and we'll see 26, 36, 47-inch OLED TV sets. OLED is the future of HDTV, this LG OLED produces super crisp picture with and absolutely stunning picture quality.
Sony 3D Bravia TV
As expected, Sony also caught the 3D flu that contaminated the world's top television manufacturers and also introduced a new series of 3D TVs at this year's CES. Sony will offer three separate lines of 3D Bravia HDTVs. The LX900 series, due out this summer, is available in size up to 60 inches and includes an edge-lit LED backlight system. Other features include 240Hz processing, integrated WiFi and two active shutter glasses for watching 3D content. It features what Sony calls a Monolithic industrial design with a smooth glass surface from edge to edge.
The consumer electronics giant also used the 3D wave to introduce its first 3D-capable Blu-ray player with WiFi connectivity and instant streaming of online content.
