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

Over the last month or so, I've had the pleasure of having LG's 42LH5000 television in my living room. There's plenty to like about this, LG's first 200Hz LCD, so read on for the full review.

First of all, let's talk styling. The 42LH5000 will fit comfortably in pretty much any living room, unless it's bright pink with "Hello Kitty" curtains. A transparent plastic 'halo' around the screen suits it nicely, with only a slight dip that indicates where the power button is to spoil the lines.

The launch date for Freeview HD has been revealed as 2nd December. That is the date in which multiplex B - the multiplex that is being utilised for HD transmissions goes live at the Winter Hill transmitter. Put simply, this means that Freeview HD will be available to the Winter Hill areas of Liverpool and Manchester.

The plan is to increase the Freeview HD transmissions in the first half of next year. The Crystal Palace transmitter, which covers much of London, may also be upgraded in December - even though the proposed date for this, according to Ofcom, is 2012.

Graham Plumb, head of distribution technology at the BBC stated that Ofcom's dates were merely a "backstop contingency".

Earlier this month we told you how Five had been added to the Freeview HD line-up alongside the BBC, ITV and Channel 4. Users will need a HD Freeview box to receive the channels as the HD content will not be decoded by existing Freeview equipment. Some TVs, such as the Sony W4000 and the Loewe Connect, already have the hardware in order to do this though, without the need for a box.

(via BBC blog)

While Asus was busy launching every laptop under the sun, their marketing executive, John Swatton, confirmed to Tech Digest (me) when the infamous Asus Keyboard will be landing and what it's actually for.

The self-sufficient computer-in-a-keyboard conundrum is supposed to be a controllable media centre primarily for your living room but, in practice, could be as portably useful as you want it to be.

It will stream HD content, stored on its 32 GB SSD, via a wide-band HDMI standard to your TV, a monitor or just about anything else with a panel. At the same time, you can use the built-in 5-inch touchscreen to do your e-mails, your shopping or whatever else you like in front if the box.

JVC uncovered a protoype of a 46" psuedo-high definition 3DTV at the CEDIA exhibition today called the GD-463D10. Cacthy. The set uses polarized light to create a steroscopic image with each alternate line of pixels emitting light in a different direction.

What then happens is that your glasses - yes, you do have to wear them - decode the half the set of pixels with the right lens, producing one angle of the image, and the other set of pixels with the left lens, producing the same image from a different angle. The two images together then give you a 3D perspective of the broadcast/playback.

Now, I call it pseudo-HD because if all 1080 horizontal lines aren't forming the exact same image, then it's not quite authentic but once you get the googles on - as modelled here by by Kat from T3 and Marc from Tech Radar - you'll be too busy thinking about the depth than you will the exact perfection of the resolution which is very good all the same.

The set itself, strictly a monitor, offers a static contrast ratio of 2,000:1 (10,000:1 dynamic) and a very normal viewing of 178 degrees. JVC is only going to make 2,000 of them for sale and they're likely to cost and an appropriately 3D eye-popping £8,000. Don't worry, though, you'll have some time to save up while JVC waits for the Blu-ray 3D standard to be decided before bring the TV to the market.

Short Version

Name: Philips Cinema 21:9

Type: 56" superwidescreen LCD TV

Specs:

• Dynamic contrast - 80,000:1
• Resolution - Full HD (2560 x 1080p)
• Response Time - 1ms
• Frame Rate - 200Hz
• Viewing Angle - 176º vertical and horizontal
• Connectivity - 4 x HDMI 1.3, 2 x Scart, USB, Ethernet, Wi-Fi 802.11g
• Speakers - 2 x subwoofers, 2 x dome tweeters
• Features - Net TV, Ambilight, Pixel Perfect Engine, Anti-reflective glass

How much should it cost?: £3,500

Should I buy it?: The short answer is yes. It doesn't represent great value and the picture isn't as perfect as the money sounds but it's an awesome TV. You're paying the extra for the unique design and the swaggering step of an early adopter.

There's a new display technology in town -- OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) -- and it could be coming to a large TV near you very soon.

Plenty of big-name manufacturers have already produced OLED TVs, and others are promising to have sets available within the next couple of years.

OLED has a lot of very attractive characteristics meaning it can has the potential to power large, bright, thin, energy-efficient televisions. Then again, LCD and plasma TVs currently rule the roost and are no pushovers when it comes to features.

Should you buy an OLED TV? Let's take a look...

I'm not going to tell you this is the world's best TV. It isn't. It's got a pretty modest contrast ratio of 1,300:1 and a lot of people will tell you that contrast is the most important feature of any panel. However, it's very hard to complain when the 42" Technika LCD42-910 only costs you 500 pounds.

It's a stylishly slim 6cm deep, without the stand, which is probably where you're getting the best value, but don't ignore the fact that it's got a very healthy 100Hz frame rate and a response time time of just 8ms, so you're unlikely to suffer from ghosting, blurring and juddering picture problems.

It is a 1080p resolution picture, so provided you're watching through an HD box or Blu-ray or such, you will be getting Full HD viewing. Technika doesn't' even stiff you round the back either with four HDMI sockets.

Tesco has reduced the set by 200 pounds and, so long as you can live with the compromised colour palate, then it could well be time to get your wallet out.

Buy it here

Ofcom has provisionally awarded Five an HD slot, allowing the network to broadcast in HD over the Freeview network when the capacity becomes available.

Five follows in the footsteps of the BBC, ITV and Channel 4, who have already been awarded their licenses. It was believed that Channel 4 was vying for a second licence in order to broadcast their E4 channel in HD.

Ofcom has stated, however, that the agreement with Five relies on them meeting "certain key criteria" by 31st December 2009. They also confirmed that Five's HD output would only be at peak times.

This is good news for fans of shows like CSI:Miami, The Gadget Show and Bones. Bad news for fans of The Wright Stuff, Wordplay and House Doctor.

Freeview HD is expected in 2010, but when you'll actually be able to get it really depends on where you live. Ofcom say the north-west will be first to receive Freeview HD after its switch-over. Everyone should be able to get the full Freeview HD package by 2012.

(via Brand Republic)

We knew it was coming in June but now we now exactly when you can fork out for the Philips Cinema 21:9 TV. 18th June is the date to jam in your diaries and you'd better put in some serious overtime because you'll need a rather icy cool £4,500 to get one in the UK. The good news is that we do have the full details on the 56-inch dream machine so you can at least drool if not afford.

It runs a full 2560x1080p HD resolution making for a grand total of 8.3 million pixels, each controlled by the Philips Perfect Pixel HD engine. It offers a 200Hz frame rate - as well it should - response times of just under 1ms and a contrast ratio of 80,000:1. Oh, and before we have a bunch of nay-sayers jumping in, there's some smart tech to resize your 16:9 pictures without significantly distorting the images or leaving black bars all over the place.

You know you're a geek when you get excited about cables but I challenge even the hardest of cynics not to be quite impressed by HDMI 1.4 - because this time it come with internet too.

Dubbed HDMI Ethernet Channel, the idea is that it'll dispense with having to make sure all your hardware has Ethernet ports. Good for you, me and the TV makers, not so good for Mr Ethernet. Fewer cables in the Satan's nest behind my home entertainment set up is a very good thing, so thumbs up for HDMI 1.4.

Another feature of the latest standard is Audio Return whereby you can send the sound in either direction down the cable. So, you could connect up and TV and PC and use either as a source of audio for playback on the other. Not ground-breaking but probably qualifies for a "pretty neat" were I American.

We'll be able to get data rates of up to 100 megabits per second up and down the wiring and they'll also be coming in a new Micro HDMI size - about the same dimensions as mini USB apparently.

No word on exactly when HDMI 1.4 will be appearing in the shops and I dread to think how much they're going to charge for them but you can bet you'll be upsold next time you try to buy any AV kit.

(via Venture Beat)

LG, maker of many a quality display, has turned its attention to a range of "television monitors" called the M7WD series. These TV monitors are aimed at people that want to do multiple things with one display, including television, PC usage, high-def content and radio.

The M7WD range has a whopping contrast ratio of 20,000:1, and packs SCART, DVI and HDMI. It's also got stereo 3W speakers, though if you're serious about your home entertainment then you'll almost certainly want to replace these with external speakers. There's a 5ms response time, and 1920 x 1080 resolution, which is higher than most displays this size.

The displays are available in 19" and 22" sizes, cost about £200 and £160 respectively, and are in stores right now.

LG Electronics

Panasonic might have a 37" HDTV with us in 18 months, if its senior executives can be believed. The company hasn't previously made much in the way of OLED announcements because it hasn't been convinced by the lifespan of Sony's OLED range.

Now, however, they've managed to use a new metal membrane inside a panel to move light more efficiently. That means that the screen's lifespan is extended from 30,000 hours to 50,000 hours, which is nearly six years of being left on continuously. Much more impressive. Current plasma offerings from Panasonic last in the region of 60,000 hours.

OLED stands for Organic Light-Emitting Diode, and it's a technology which displays a much better picture for a considerably reduced energy cost. As a result, it's being pursued agressively by television manufacturers, but the price is still an issue - with even tiny OLED screens costing thousands of pounds.

(via Smarthouse)

Aware that the Blu-ray market still hasn't really taken off, Warner Bros are getting a little desperate, and they're waving an olive branch of peace at people who bought HD-DVDs. They're going to let people mail the original box art for any HD-DVDs that they bought and swap them for the same title on Blu-ray.

It's not quite free, they're charging $4.95 per disc for the service, plus $6.95 shipping, but it's still much cheaper than buying all the new discs yourself. It might even be worth scanning the local bargain bins for the old HD-DVDs to send off, then flog the replacements you get sent. You won't be able to make a mint, though. It's limited to 25 swaps per household.

(via Den of Geek and @stuart_coles)