CES 2009 preview: Televisions

This year's CES will bring the usual array of extremely large, easy-to-write-about televisions, although we're not sure anybody will top the 150-inch Panasonic plasma from last year.

More interesting is a group of new trends that, compared with items like "1080p" and "HDMI 1.3" from previous years, could actually prove exciting. OK fine, they're nothing compared with Macworld, but they're as exciting as televisions get.

Eco-friendly
Oil prices might be falling thanks to the financial crisis, but with a new, more environmentally conscious American president and general belt-tightening, the American public, and the world at large, may finally be ready to factor power consumption into their TV-buying decision. The new Energy Star ratings, which will be compulsory in Australia from April onwards, should help separate the wastrel TVs from the misers. More TV makers will market "green TVs" than ever, and with some of the technologies below, especially OLED and LED, they could improve efficiency even further.

Internet connectivity
In the US, 2008 saw a rash of TVs with the capability to stream video, music and photos over a network, along with some models from Panasonic and Samsung that could display news, weather, business information and other internet content on screen. At this year's show we'll likely see further interactive capabilities, perhaps including Netflix streaming or access to online video sites like Hulu. Web video displayed on an actual TV seems like a no-brainer, although we're not holding our breath about how many of these cool features will make their way down here.

We're expecting a few OLED TVs at this year's CES, but LED backlit LCDs will be more numerous.
(Credit: Sony)

OLED
No display technology is cooler than OLED. Sony was first to market with a consumer OLED TV, with the 11-inch XEL-1 on sale overseas, and we expect the company to announce a larger screen size, perhaps as big as 30 inches, this year. Samsung will also join the fray. But don't expect these sets to be affordable or even available in Australia this year ... or next.

LED
Much more accessible than OLED, LED backlighting combined with standard LCD technology will be out in force in 2009. We've heard that one manufacturer wants to create a separate market segment called "LED TV", to separate these more-expensive, better-performing models from their non-LED LCD brethren. Samsung, Sony and LG, at least, will expand their LED line-ups in 2009, and prices will definitely fall as production ramps up.

200Hz
As the marketing logic goes, if 100Hz is good, 200Hz has to be twice as nice, right? Not really, but that higher number sure looks impressive on a spec sheet, and Sony is already selling a 200Hz LCD in its KDL-46Z4500 — which, in case you don't want to click through, is good but isn't twice as good. Nonetheless, Samsung and LG will likely up the ante until it hertz this year — sorry, couldn't resist.

Dejudder processing
Currently widely available in 100Hz LCDs, the ability to smooth out motion, known as "dejudder", will probably migrate in force to plasma, standard 50Hz LCDs, and rear-projection, too. If you like that smooth effect feel free to rejoice, but we'll probably stick with leaving it off, thank you very much.

Ultrathin flat panels
Last year's CES included a number of even flatter flat-panel LCD TVs and we expect abuse of the phrase "thin is in" to grow during this year's show coverage. Ultrathin technology may also make its way to plasma models this year. Of course, the difference between the standard 3-inch thick panel and "ultrathin" models 1-inch thick or less isn't going to sway many buyers to pay extra, but that won't stop manufacturers from pushing thin anyway.

What new TV technology do you want to see announced at this year's CES? Let us know in the comments section below.