Toshiba L7200 flagship LED is smart, slim and in control

Toshiba has announced its flagship LCD, the L7200 Cinema Series, which includes passive 3D, an on-board cable program guide and smart TV.

One of the unique features of the Toshiba 2012 range is MediaGuide, an electronic program guide designed to replace your cable box's own, while integrating search. Tell the TV what your cable provider is, browse the guide onscreen or on your tablet/smartphone and the TV uses an IR flasher to control the set-top box.

The L7200 is a passive 3D screen that includes what the company calls "trivector" 2D-to-3D conversion.

The TV uses ClearScan 240Hz processing, and incorporates an edge-lit LED panel, which includes local dimming.

Like many high-end TVs this year, the TV includes a dual-core processor designed to aid multitasking and accelerate the CQ Video Engine. This will come in handy when using the Smart TV service for Netflix/YouTube and the Open Browser.

There are plenty of flashy televisions at this year's show, but the Toshiba is quite understated, if slim, with the Aero "bezel-less" design and a black glass table stand.

Unusually, the TV also includes a standalone, Wi-Fi QWERTY keyboard for text input — most companies incorporate a QWERTY into their remote.

Toshiba L7200 series features:

• Edge-lit LED with X-Gen panel
• Ultra-slim and narrow bezel design
• 240Hz refresh rate
• Smart TV with SmartCentral
• On-board Wi-Fi
• Four HDMI inputs.

Toshiba L7200 series models:

• Toshiba 47L7200U 47 inches, available April
• Toshiba 55L7200U 55 inches, available March, $TBD.

Via CNET