Sneak Preview: TV Tech at CES 2008

Bigger sets? Sure, we'll have those in spades at CES come January, with another record-breaker undoubtedly being unveiled on day one. But more excitement is actually churning in the realm of core technologies. Here's a sneak peek at what to expect from TV tech.

LCD and Plasma - It's funny to think it, but LCD and plasma are now the old guard of TV tech, with both focusing on getting bigger, brighter, lighter, cheaper, and more energy efficient. For a couple of years, plasma has been the choice for very large screens, and LCD the choice for smaller sets... but as LCD continues to grow and grow, that distinction is vanishing. We're at the point where some are now wondering how much time plasma has left. Don't count plasma out just yet: Pioneer's KURO line, for example, promises exceptionally deep blacks and superb colors (a longtime weakness of flat panels); some say they're the best-looking plasmas ever. I'll be reporting from the show with word on how all these technologies look in person... and how big they've gotten.

Laser TV - Last year there was a minor hubbub about so-called laser television, but it was ultimately a no-show (though it may have been presented behind closed doors), with some people calling the whole technology an outright scam. But it does, however, seem to exist in some form now. Laser TV is a projector TV technology that uses lasers instead of incandescent lamps to create light. Proponents say it uses less power and allows for lighter sets than even LCDs offer, with "bulbs" that never burn out. True? We'll see soon; Mitsubishi has sent fancy invitations to a big unveiling of the technology at the show already, and I've got one in my hot little hands. Stay tuned.

OLED TV - The sketchiest TV technology of them all, OLEDs, or organic LEDs, have found only minimal adoption in the industry so far, and primarily in tiny applications like MP3 player and camera displays. OLEDs are attractive because they don't require a backlight, unlike all other display technologies, which means they are very energy friendly and (eventually) affordable. Last year, a 27-inch prototype was on display by Sony, and the company launched the set commercially in Japan a month ago. Are bigger sets on tap? No one's saying... yet.

SED TV - Another long-suffering TV technology, SED (Surface-conduction Electron-emitter Display) is an LCD competitor with a similar design, but this one has been in the works for about 20 years with little to show. Prototypes were shown in 2006, then none in 2007. A few announcements have emerged in recent months, but nothing concrete. Whether or not SED appears at all this year is a mystery.