Future of high-definition LCD TV looking sharp

MANILA, Philippines - The way many mall crawlers would stop in front of appliance stores to indiscriminately watch anything on those huge and vibrant LCD TV displays says a lot about the growing interest, if not demand, in high-definition flat-panel TVs.

Recent market studies show LCD TV leading the race against other kinds of flat panels like plasma and OLED. Two weeks ago was a particular tipping point for the TV industry when Pioneer announced it was killing off its critically acclaimed TV business and with it, of course, its popular plasma line.

Also, prices of flat-panel TVs have been on a steady decline, prompting many buyers to chuck their traditional CRT TV sets in favor of LCD TVs. But because LCD TVs still tend to be pricey, most buyers are willing to go only for models under 40 inches.

Data from DisplaySearch put the global share of TVs with 40-inch screens and higher at 23 percent, up from 19 percent in Q308 and 18 percent a year ago. LCD TV’s market share was at 58 percent for Q408, while CRTs had 34 percent, and plasma displays with only about eight percent.

For the year, LCD shipments were at 105 million, up 33 percent over the previous year. LCD TV picked up market share in every region, particularly in China and Eastern Europe.

Sharp Aquos

One particular LCD TV model with the size and quality to compel anyone to stop and watch is the Aquos LC-46A85M. This 46-inch LCD HDTV from Sharp lives up to its brand name, making it a capable high-end hub for your digital entertainment system.

The unit reviewed by NetWorks has a native resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 and a dynamic contrast ratio of 10,000:1 mean crisp and clear video output, while its 100-Hz Fine Motion Advance technology reduces motion blur usually associated with early LCD TVs, a feature you’ll appreciate when you’re watching an action film, say, the Blu-ray version of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull or your favorite sports program on ESPN.

Fully HD-ready, the LC-46A85M comes with three HDMI ports, making it a natural companion to a Blu-ray player, a Sony PlayStation 3 or Microsoft Xbox 360. The HDTV also accepts S-video, VGA, composite video, and component video input. A system of menus offers extensive control over video and audio options.

Like most modern LCD TVs these days, the LC-46A85M sports a slim, minimalist look with a glassy black finish, and can be mounted on a wall or on a no-swivel pedestal. More importantly, it is for people with P119,998 to spend.