By LAWRENCE TAN
The Slim Wars which started last year at the CES 2007 show
enters its next phase in this year’s IFA in Berlin, as television manufacturers
outdo themselves and their competitors in a bid to produce the skinniest LCD
TVs.
First off is Sharp, who introduced its Aquos XS1 Series,
which was a mere design concept at this time last year. At 23 mm thick (just a
tad shy of an inch), Sharp managed to halve its previous offerings of 50
mm-thin TVs, which they showcased only in May this year.
The Aquos XS1 easily impresses
with its 1,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, 100Hz motion processing and a
1080p resolution, not to mention they are huge panels at 52- and 65-inches.
Expect the XS1 in the UK in October.
Panasonic got in on the act with a trio of prototype plasma
screens that measured 24.7 mm in thickness, but until their 50, 58 and 65-inch
wafer plasmas enter production, they will have to take a backseat for now.
Similarly, Philips’ prototype 32-inch display looks to have
won this round hands down with its 8 mm screen, with plans for a 42-incher in
the pipeline.
But until that happens, Sony bags the crown of the thinnest LCD
TV in the world with its 9.9 mm-thick KDL-40ZX1. Sony achieved this thickness
by streaming 1080i video via an external wireless set top that also houses
three HDMI, component, s-video, VGA and USB ports.
Its 3,000:1 contrast ratio may not amount to much alongside
Sharp’s XS1 but the 40-inch TV uses a new LED lighting technology that
distributes the light evenly across the screen from its four corners, and the
picture quality is simply stunning.
Anorexia has never enjoyed a warmer
reception anywhere else other than the fashion runway, until now.
via Dvice