LG to bring Skype-enabled super-slim TVs in 2010
by Tarinder Sandhu
on 7 January 2010, 05:53
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LG Electronics (066570.KS)
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New TVs for 2010
A new premium line of LED-backlit and plasma TVs will be launched under the INFINIA branding. Equipped with thin bezels and wafer-thin profiles, the sets will also feature greater online connectivity than ever before, made possible by USB WiFi adapters, LG representatives said.
Expanding the range from last year, LG is introducing a broader range of 'Wireless Ready' TVs. Rather than integrate the wireless HDMI connectivity into the sets themselves, the majority of new TVs for 2010 will feature a rear-mounted port for a wireless dongle, controlled by the TV and interfacing with external boxes up to a range of 30m.
Skype
The range of new displays will also feature integrated Skype support for making free TV-to-TV calls, enabled by plugging in a webcam to the set. At the moment, LG and Panasonic are the only two companies to feature integrated Skype.
Slim is in...again
Thinking of LG's LED-backlit TVs, the average thickness for such a set was 105.9mm in 2009. For 2010, the thickness of full-LED-backlit TVs will shrink to 23.3mm - less than one-quarter of the previous size.
Pragmatically, the Freeview HD-supporting LE8500, pictured above, is 23mm thick whilst the soon-to-launch LE9500 will shrink this down to just 6.9mm, as pictured in prototype form below.
LG will also be bringing a hard-drive-equipped Blu-ray player to the market, BD590, a new netbook, X120, and a splash-resistant OLED screen in H1 2010. Stay tuned for a booth tour later on in the week.