Fans of high-definition projection rejoice; Epson have announced that they have developed the world's first 4K-compatible HTPS (high-temperature polysillicon) TFT liquid crystal panel for 3LCD projectors.

Why should you care? Just a few months ago Epson we're flaunting a HTPS panel with a 1,920 x 1,200 WUXGA resolution. This panel boasts resolutions as crazily high as 4,096 x 2,160.Until now 4Kx2K projectors were huge and incredibly expensive, making it usually reserved just for use in cinemas. But at just 1.64 inches, we may be seeing 4K 3LCD projectors sporting this panel in our living rooms in the not too distant future.

According to Akihabara News, Epson will be exhibiting a projector with the kit built in before the end of the year. Keep checking back for more details.

I4U News has revealed details of a Samsung LED TV panel so slim it should be strutting its stuff down a Milan catwalk. Reputedly the world's thinnest LED TV panel, the "Needle Slim" is just 3.9mm thick.

The 40 inch, full HD LED is said to have a 120hz refresh rate and a claimed 5,000:1 contrast ratio.

It is still unclear whether or not Samsung have a TV using this technology in the pipeline. But you wouldn't go through all the effort (and money) involved in developing a super-slim bit of kit like this for nothing, would you?

ITV's high definition service gets a major boost this weekend as it screens the entire Star Wars movie series. Starting 24th October the films will be available freely on the ITV HD channels on the Freesat satellite service.

Then throughout the months of November and December, the entire series will be airing on ITVHD in consecutive order, beginning with Episode I: The Phantom Menace on 24th October, culminating with Episode VI: Return of the Jedi in December, and including the terrestrial premiere of Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.

If you don't like Star Wars (and I am guessing Jaws isn't your scene either) then ITV HD also has Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, and Champions League and FA Cup football.

Freesat is a subscription-free satellite TV service from the BBC and ITV, with over 140 channels and free high-definition programmes from the BBC and ITV, all with no monthly bills. As Freesat is a satellite service, you can receive it anywhere in the UK and can use an existing satellite dish.

Other ITV HD highlights on Freesat include films such as Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, and Champions League and FA Cup football.

New figures released by Sky claim to show Sky+HD boxes sold at a rate of one every 30 seconds between the months of July and September.

With the public preferring a cosy night in during these wallet-whacking times, Sky has seen subscriptions to its HD service rise to 1.6 million. That's on top of the 6 million who already own a standard Sky+ box.

The number of HD channels is also set to rise to 35, with the introduction of Sky Movies Indie HD on Monday.

Sharp has unveiled its first LED TVs in London today and about time too. From what I've seen this afternoon, though, they appear to be worth waiting for. There's two ranges to choose from, the LE600 and LE700, both AQUOS sets, and they come in 32", 40" and 46" sizes. There's a bonus 52" if you opt for the 700.

Goodbye expensive HDMI cables, hello even more expensive TVs. Ofcom has agreed to free up some of the UK electromagentic spectrum to allow us to stream high definition content wirelessly in our homes.

What this means for you and I is that we'll no longer have to have cables between our TVs and BD players/set top boxes. Instead there'll be really expense transmitters and receivers buried in our already expensive hardware and, although I'm not willing to pay to rid my house of a few short ties, I do like the idea of streaming downloaded HD content straight from my PC. Plus any system that allows me to use the Asus Keyboard would make me a very happy mangeek. Oh, and just in case you're worried, there's no compression involved.

What I like best about this story, though, is how Ofcom has done it. They've basically just made an announcement and then said they'll free up the small 57GHz-66GHz part of the spectrum by the end of the week. Seems pretty quick. I wonder if I could get myself a couple of GHz of airwave real estate? Sounds like Ofcom might have some down the back of the sofa.

(via Digital Spy)

Sky has held the HD monopoly for all too long now but, as of this month, Virgin Media is hitting back. Today, Branson TV has announced four more channels in high definition in the shape of FX, National Geographic, Living and MTV Networks to sit alongside BBC HD and all their HD on demand viewing.

Now, on the surface, these don't sound like the most scintillating additions but it means Grey's Anatomy, Dexter, the Wire, CSI, True Blood and Family Guy in HD as well as the intriguing prospect of Next Top Model. I'm not sure exactly how many of these programmes were shot in HD in the first place and I doubt you'll get much out of a hi-def version of Family Guy but I'm sure the nature broadcasts on Nat. Geo. will look great.

If you're a Virgin XL customer, then it's all available at no extra cost from the end of July and there's also a very good chance that they'll be adding Good Food HD shortly too.

Still a long way to go before they catch up with Sky but not a bad offering all things considered.

Virgin XL