Top and front views of the slim LE9500.
Photo: LG Electronics

Although much of the focus has been on 3D TV, many manufacturers are also offering new models with expanded features and new technologies. LG Electronics, for example, will introduce three new LED LCD TV series with two new types of LED backlighting technology, as well as a few models with 480Hz technology, which combines a higher TV frame rate with a scanning backlight to achieve a 240Hz effect. A good number of the new LED-based sets will have the ability to connect to home networks wirelessly, or receive wireless HDMI transmissions from source components.

For example, LG’s new super-slim LE9500 and LE8500 Infinia-series LCD TVs—available in 47- and 55-inch screen sizes—use a new “Full LED Slim” backlight that allows very thin designs while retaining the ability to be locally dimmed for improved black levels and brightness uniformity, the company claims. The 55-inch LE9500 model, for example, is less than an inch deep, and has 240 zones that can be independently controlled. The LE9500 sets will also be LG’s first 3D models in the U.S. Another LED innovation, called LED Plus, is available on LE7500- and LE5500-series models. This technology brings a more basic local dimming capability—up to 16 addressable segments—to edge LED backlights, the first time we’ve seen edge LEDs with any kind of local dimming.

All of LG’s LED-backlit LCD TVs will have access to its NetCast online service, which now offers Skype videophone capability, plus Netflix 2.0, an upgrade to the service that eliminates the need to add movies to your queue using a PC. These join other services, such as Vudu, YouTube, Napster, and Yahoo Widgets, which were already part of NetCast. The models are also DNLA (Digital Living Network Alliance) compliant, so they can access content from other DNLA-compliant devices, such as home and portable computers. All TVs with NetCast will be able to wirelessly connect to a home network via an optional USB adapter, and can accept wireless HDMI signals (using the WHDI format) when used with an optional media hub and a small receiver that plugs into a rear HDMI input on the set.

In all, LG unveiled 11 new TV series, six of which were LED-based models. Here’s a quick rundown of the new LED sets:

• Infinia LE9500: Flagship ultra-thin 47-, and 55-inch 1080p 3D models with Full LED Slim backlights with local dimming, TruMotion 480Hz technology, THX certification, and Netcast online services. The sets come with a Magic Wand remote that responds to gestures, and are ready for wireless networking and wireless HD when used with optional gear.
• Infinia LE8500: Similar to the LE9500, but without 3D capability and the Magic Wand remote. Also, they have 240Hz technology, and a slightly wider bezel.
• Infinia LE7500: Available in 42-, 47-, and 55-inch screen sizes, these 10280p sets have TruMotion 120Hz technology, the LED Plus edge backlights with local dimming, plus Netcast and wireless HD capability.
• LE5500: These sets, in 22-, 26-, 42-, 47-, 55-inch screen sizes, have TruMotion 120Hz, LED Plus backlight technology, and except for the two smallest sizes, access to NetCast.
• LE5400: These edge LED models, in 32-, 42-, 47, 55, 60-inch screen sizes, are 1080 sets with TruMotion 120Hz technology and NetCast access, and are wireless-ready.
• LE5300: Available in 19-, 22-, 26-, 32-, 37-inch screen sizes, these are entry-level edge LED LCD TVs with thin designs. The two larger models are 1080p sets with TruMotion 120Hz technology.

LG also announced five new LCD lines that use conventional CCFL lamps. The top-of-the line LD650-series sets, available in 47- and 55-inch screen sizes, are 1080p models with TruMotion 240Hz, NetCast access, and are wireless-ready. The LD550 series is similar, but has 120Hz technology, while an LD520 series lacks NetCast access. The LD450 series are entry-level 1080p sets, while LD350 models are smaller-sized entry-level 720p sets.

Keep checking back with our blog for more details about other new LCD and plasma TVs from the major brands.

—James K. Willcox

Slingbox is showing CES showgoers how to watch TV anywhere, anytime, on virtually any device. That includes your iPhone, Blackberry, and other compatible phones.

With a $30 cell phone app, you can enjoy live or recorded TV over a Wi-Fi or 3G connection and control your TV and DVR right from your phone, even scheduling new recordings. Paul Eng stopped by the Slingbox booth to see how it works.

Check out our video hub for more Consumer Reports videos from CES.

Although sometimes overshadowed by all the LCD TV introductions, plasma TVs are alive and well at CES, as evidenced by the three new ultra-slim plasma series unveiled by Samsung during the show this week. All the new plasma models are about 40 percent more efficient than last year’s sets, the company says, and meet the new Energy Star 4.0 guidelines.

The 8000-, 7000-, and 6500-series plasma models are less than 1.5 inches deep. Both the top-of-the line 8000 series plasma, which has a brushed titanium bezel, and 7000-series sets, which sport a brushed black bezel, are 3D-ready sets with Samsung’s 3D processor, which can upconvert 2D content to 3D on the fly as well as play native 3D content.

The 8000-series plasma sets also have a new anti-judder technology, called Motion Judder Canceller, for reducing film-based motion judder, and a new calibration mode for adjusting key picture settings. (We look forward to checking these features out in our labs.) The 7000 series has similar features, though it lacks the new anti-judder technology and a 24p playback technology called CinemaSmooth that's included in the 8000-series sets. The 6500-series models are the company’s entry-level ultra-slim offerings, and lack 3D capability as well as some other features.

All the new plasma sets include Samsung’s upgraded Internet@TV online service, which now includes Samsung Apps, essentially an applications storefront that offers access to services from a growing number of content partners, including streaming movies from Blockbuster, Netflix and Vudu. Many apps are free, but some premium apps will be available for purchase this summer.

We’re still tracking down some details, including pricing and availability, but it appears the sets will be available in 50-, 58-, and 63-inch screen sizes this spring. Stay tuned to our blog for more CES product updates.

—James K. Willcox

Panasonic has added patners to its Viera
Cast Internet service.
Photo: Panasonic

Although visitors to its booth were most likelyy wowed by its 3D theater and Avatar demos, here at CES Panasonic more quietly expanded the content available via its Viera Cast online service, and launched a line of LCD TVs with LED backlights.

The company also boosted the energy efficiency of its TV lineup, so that all its 2010 models will be able to meet the more stringent Energy Star 4.0 requirements.

To enhance its Viera Cast Internet service, Panasonic added new content partners, most notably Skype, Netflix, Pandora, Twitter and Fox Sports. The company also added USB connectivity to its Viera Cast models, so these TVs can now connect wirelessly to a home network via an optional wireless USB adaptor.

Here’s a quick rundown of the new models:

Viera Plasma TVs
As we’ve reported, Panasonic’s first “Full HD 3D” plasma TVs, which provide 1080p resolution to each eye, will ship this spring. The five models in the VT25 series, in 50- to 65-inch screen sizes, each come with one pair of 3D shutter glasses. Beyond 3D, these models have Viera Cast, Viera Image Viewer for viewing digital photos and HD video recorded on an SD memory card, and THX certification (and THX Movie Mode) and ISFccc calibration capability.

Other plasma models include:

• G25: The replacement for the current G15 series, these 1080p plasma sets are available in 54-, 50-, 46- and 42-inch screen sizes. They have many of the same features of the VT25 series, but without 3D capability.
• G20: The Viera G20 series, in 54- and 50-inch screen sizes, are 1080p plasma models that replace current G10 sets. They have many of the same features of the G25 models, but with no ISFccc calibration capability.
• S2: The replacement for current S1 plasma sets, the Viera S2 plasma series are 1080p models that range in size from a 42 inches all the way up to a 65-inch behemoth. Though these sets lack the Viera Cast online service, they do have the Viera Viewer. Another interesting feature is a “Clean Touch” bezel, supposedly more resistant than most sets to fingerprint blemishes.
• U2: The U2 series is now Panasonic’s entry-level 1080p series, in 50- and 42-inch screen sizes. They don’t have Viera Cast, but do include Viera Viewer.
• C2: For budget-conscious consumers, the C2-series plasmas– in 50-, 46-, and 42-inch screen sizes—have similar features to U2 models, but come with 720p resolution.

Viera LCD TVs
The big news for Panasonic in LCD TVs is the addition of the first models with edge LED backlights. The top of the line LED-backlit LCD sets are two D2-series 1080p models, in 37- and 42-inch screen sizes. These models feature 120Hz technology, a universal iPod dock, plus the Viera Image Viewer for viewing digital photos.

Keep checking back with our blog for reports on other news from CES.

—James K. Willcox

Lenovo IdeaPad U1
Photo: Lenovo

Tablet PCs are causing quite a stir lately as rumors fly about Apple introducing a tablet computer later this month. But at CES this week, Lenovo launched an interesting tablet product of its own.

The IdeaPad U1 is a hybrid laptop. It’s a traditional laptop, but when you remove the detachable screen, the screen becomes a tablet computer that uses multitouch gestures. Each component uses its own operating system, the laptop Windows 7 and the tablet Lenovo’s own Skylight operating system. It’s not clear whether, when you switch from the laptop to the tablet, you can run all the same Windows applications.

The screen is 11.6 inches. That’s smaller than other laptops we've rated, but at 3.8 pounds it also weighs less than most laptops. The tablet by itself weighs 1.6 pounds, less than most netbooks we've rated.

Both computers synchronize your work between them so that, for example, if you start surfing with the laptop then remove the tablet, you can continue surfing on the tablet uninterrupted. You can open four to six different Web-browsing sections at once, so you can check e-mail, use a social-networking site, and look through your RSS feeds at the same time.

Lenovo says the tablet interface allows you to switch between portrait and landscape mode. Our understanding is the tablet is optimized for landscape mode but not portrait. We’ll further test the IdeaPad U1 when it’s available next summer.

The IdeaPad U1 includes 3G wireless, and will cost $1,000.

—Donna Tapellini