Actually, I'm not sure if this flowchart makes anything easier. In the end it might just make fun of you and bring you back to square one. Still, there is some useful information in there if you are willing to go on the journey.

Make sure to click on the image to see the full size chart. [Gliffy]

To be clear, we're only looking sets that are at least 46 inches—go big or go home. And though there are some nice 720p plasmas out there for amazing prices, the majority of TVs we're concerned with are 1080p—it's the standard now, even in cheap HDTVs, and probably the only resolution you'll see next year.

We focus on LCDs quite a bit here, not because we prefer them, but because there are key enhancements that can be put in LCD technology to make them look better. With plasma, the problems—energy consumption, weight, thickness—are more of an evolutionary, year-to-year thing. A cheaper plasma often is one that's just using older technology.

Also, we're using Amazon as our pricing base line, since it's on average a good standard for low but legitimate street prices, and we use Samsung examples a lot because they have a ton of different models on the market, so it was easier to isolate individual features, and to gauge subtle differences in pricing.

Size Matters

The first, and most obvious thing that'll cost you is more screen real estate. There's not an absolute inches to dollars ratio, but generally speaking, the first step up is the cheapest, and somewhere in the middle, there's a sweet spot, after which you basically lose money by upgrading. The funny thing is, each maker seems to have a different idea of where the sweet spot is, which you could play to your advantage:

Take for instance, Panasonic's plasma G10 series. It's $200 to go from the 42-inch model to 50, and then $400 to go up to 54. So the sweet spot is at 50 inches. Similar thing happening with Vizio's XVT line: Going from 42 to 47 inches is just $250, though going up to 55 from 47 costs about a a grand. Hence 47 inches makes the most dollar-per-inch sense if you like that TV.

With Sony and Samsung, though, it pays to keep going up. In Sony's top-of-the-line Bravia XBR9 series, the hop from 40 to 46 is $360, but going from 46 to 52 is just $250. Samsung's LED-backlit TV costs $350 to go from 40 to 46, and just $500 to go from there to 55 inches. (There's a limit, of course, Samsung's 65-inch LN65B650 doesn't have many of the frills discussed below, but still lists for $6000.)

The real lesson here: Don't think of size as a foregone conclusion. When you've narrowed down your options using all the criteria, go back and check the sizes and relative prices. There may be a surprise, hopefully good but possibly bad.

Vroom, Vroom

Everything after size you can roughly sweep everything you'd pay more for into the category of performance. The grand trick of buying TVs though, according to our friend Gary Merson of HD Guru, is that "the TV industry is setup like the car industry." Just like buying a Corvette to battle your mid-life crisis because it vrooms real good, when you pay extra money for extra horsepower, you're also going to get leather bucket seats and the in-dash GPS. It's hard to buy a stripped-down car that just delivers better performance, and the same goes when you're trying to scrimp on a TV without compromising picture. In the case of TVs, a higher performer might come with a million HDMI jacks or integrated Wi-Fi and video on demand, and you never know exactly what you're paying for.

Fortunately, we can break performance into a two major categories so it's slightly easier to interpret those price differentials: Backlight (for LCDs) and panel quality.

Fancy Backlighting

The single most expensive upgrade for LCD TVs right now is LED backlighting. As we explain here, there are a bunch of advantages to LED over conventional CCFL backlighting for LCD TVs. Which particular advantages you pick up depends on the kind of LED backlighting in the set. While both offer instant on and power savings, edge-lit models mainly deliver serious thinness, while backlit sets can offer local dimming, which delivers noticeably better black levels and contrast.

How much will it cost you? Well, comparing two Samsung sets with fairly equivalent panels, the price difference is about $500. The CCFL-backlit LN46B650 is $1360, while the UN46B6000 is $1850. Because it's got LED edge lighting, the B6000 is only 1.2 inches thick, compared to the B650's 3.1 inches. When you step up and compare Samsung's edge-lit to back-lit, the difference isn't as great: A 46-inch 8000 series edge-lit model goes for $2300, while the 8500 series with local-dimming is $2600. (If you're already paying for LED technology, you definitely want to step up.)

So yes, backlit LED sets with local dimming tend to cost more. Sony's year-old Bravia XBR8 uses tri-color LEDs to improve color accuracy over the most LED sets, which use white ones. Though its production is discontinued, it's still nearly $2200 at 46 inches. However, Toshiba consistently delivers cheaper sets than most of its fellow "name" brands, and their 46-inch LED backlit set with local dimming is just $1700.

Panels and Oh, It Hertz

The panel is the other major thing that determines how good an HDTV actually is, and it applies to both LCDs and plasmas. Typically, as you move up in price, you get a better panel. Cheaper sets generally use older panels with previous-generation tech that Merson says have a poorer viewing angle, so there's a smaller area you can actually stare at on your TV to get a good picture. The problem is that no TV manufacturer actually declares its panel attributes on the box, so you're often on your own to figure it out. The best way is to go to the store and check out the viewing angles.

Hertz, for the uninitiated, is simply the number of times per second that LCD TVs refresh their picture. (Plasma isn't part of this discussion because phosphor pixels work differently than liquid crystal ones, and plasma's "refresh rate" would be way higher—to the point of irrelevance.) A 60Hz LCD refreshes the picture 60 times a second, 120Hz is 120 times a second, and so on, up to 240Hz in the top-priced LCD sets. A higher refresh rate is supposed to increase the ability to see fast-moving video at its highest intended resolution, and works well in theory, though there are issues with 240Hz execution. At this point, a minimum of 120Hz is a given on all premium LCDs, says Merson. There isn't one LED-backlit set that doesn't have it.

Here's how the refresh-rate step-ups look: The 46-inch Samsung B550 is a standard 1080p CCFL-backlit set for $1020. Moving up to the same size B650 for $1360—$300 more—gets you 120Hz (plus a higher contrast ratio). Going up again, to the B750 for $1630, another $300, you get 240Hz, and again even better contrast ratio. That's about the top of Samsung's CCFL-backlit line.

You can see the same thing with their LED sets: The 46-inch B6000 is a 120Hz LED edge-lit set for $1850. The 46-inch LED edgel-lit B8000 goes to 240Hz, and it costs $2300, about $450 more.

What About Plasma?

As we mentioned, plasmas are a little less complicated, since there's nothing like refresh rates to deal with. On the other hand, the situation may be more obtuse, since you don't always know what the real differences are. Merson says there are a few basic levels of plasma performance. On Black Friday, Walmart is selling a 50-inch plasma for $598 if you don't mind the fact that it's 720p (and branded Sanyo, which is probably Panasonic-based but who knows?). Stepping up to the 50" 1080p plasmas will generally cost $300 to $400 more.

There are more issues, however. Panasonic has a new panel called NeoPDP that's more energy efficient, but it's sometimes hard to tell which models have it and which don't. (Hint: Look for the Energy Star sticker.) Finally, you have THX-certified panels that offer nearly perfect calibration right out of the box. Beyond that, contrast ratios do tend to get better over time, but it's relative: At the low end of the HDTV price spectrum, plasma sets have generally delivered better picture than LCD anyway.

Frills and Other Stuff

The funny thing about TVs nowadays is that there's more to them than the screen. Like inputs. Until recently, one thing you got more of by paying more money were more holes to stick things into. That's not really the case once you get up into 46-inch sets—you're gonna get 4 HDMI slots in a set that big no matter what. But, there are other things nowadays. Like video services that come in through other holes, or maybe without wires at all.

An example, to use our old friends at Samsung: The B6000 looks a lot like the B7000, but with the B7000, for $180 more, you get online video services via Yahoo's widget engine, like YouTube.

Or, let's look at the upcoming crop of LED TVs that aren't even out yet, or are in limited distribution for now. LG's 55LHX and Sony's Bravia XBR10 both have wireless HDMI and 240Hz, but with Bravia Internet Widgets and Slacker radio, the Bravia is $5000, $200 more than 55LHX. Wireless HDMI itself is a pretty pricey feature. Same Sony, compared to Samsung's 8500. The 8500 has built-in video services, but no wireless HDMI, and it's $500 cheaper, at $4500. Oh, and did I mention that the Sony is even 3 inches smaller than the Samsung and LG?

Wireless is still in the gimmick phase, but next year, we assume we'll be able to track its price premium as well as we can track size, refresh rate, backlighting and other factors today, $300 to $400 at a time. How do you get from $600 to a $6000? You just add, add some more, and then keep adding.

Still something you wanna know? Send questions about addition, subtraction, hertz, aches, pains and LEDs here, with "Giz Explains" in the subject line.

You will learn important lessons like: sizing your TV to optimize resolution, whether to choose LCD vs plasma vs LED and why you don't need to spend money on a 240 Hz TV. So, make sure to check out the following link before you shop. [HDGuru]

The HDTVs included models from the top-tier brands of (alphabetically) LG, Samsung, Sharp and Sony - from the mid-line to top-of-the-line models. All of the units were from the 2008 model year. Differences between the 2008 and 2009 models are primarily in their marketing hype. For this article we had three flagship top-of-the line LCD models from Samsung (LN-T5281F), Sharp (LC-52D92U) and Sony (KDL-52XBR4). By studying the top-of-the-line models from the market leaders we were assured of examining the state-of-the-art for each display technology and each manufacturer. The consumer mid-line models included LG (42LG50), Samsung (LN40A550P3F), and Sony (KDL-40V3000). The remaining two LCD units were consumer HDTVs but not commercially available models.

The top-of-the-line Sony XBR and Sharp units had 120 Hz screen refresh, the top-of-the-line Samsung had strobed LED backlighting, and all of the other units had standard 60 Hz screen refresh. The goal was to determine the degree to which this varied advanced technology affected visible motion blur.

DisplayMate analyzed the blur using moving test patterns, moving photographs and live video (a Nikon D90 DSLR with a shutter speed of 1/160th a second was used for the photography) and found that no actual motion blur detectable in any of the live video content—although there were incidents that were passed off as defects in the source video or temporary optical illusions.

After extensive side-by-side objective testing with moving test patterns, moving photographs and live video we found that there was no visually detectable difference in motion blur performance for current mid to top-of-the-line LCD HDTVs, regardless of their Response Time, 60 or 120 Hz refresh rates, strobed LED backlighting, or motion enhancement processing. While there was considerable motion blur in the moving test patterns, motion blur was simply not visually detectable in real live video content during our extensive side-by-side testing. With only a handful of minor exceptions, whenever blur was seen in live video we always found it to be in the source content or a temporary visual illusion that disappeared when the segments in question were reviewed. This is undoubtedly due to the way the brain processes and extracts essential information from dynamic and complex moving images.

In other words, DisplayMate thinks you are probably seeing things. Don't be fooled by manufacturers charging extra for fancy motion blur technologies or claims of exceptional response times. If you purchased a mid to top tier model you shouldn't have anything to worry about. Of course, this test doesn't remotely cover all of the LCD brands out there, so I have to ask—based on your experience, do you believe that LCD makers have finally tamed the motion blur beast? [DisplayMate]

Here are the first few pages with all of the TVs and other electronics doorbusters. Follow this link for the full shebang: [Black Friday 2009]

Well, at least not in Roaming Navigation view.

Instead, the shows are grouped by relationship—common threads like genre, title, and hours of original play. The more overlapping qualities, the closer the thumbnails are sorted to one another.

At first, the idea of sorting by title similarity sounds a bit ridiculous, but for those who watch CSI, CSI:Miami, CSI:NY, CSI:Indianapolis, and CSI:Millersburg, OH, it's probably pretty handy—especially if they watch Law & Order, too. [Tech-On]

Samsung's plasmas are pretty quality (I've got one of their 63 inchers), so you should take a long hard look at your bank account and see if you can afford this. Seriously, free shipping too. And that rotating stand is very handy. [Newegg]

Two groups of 30 people watched the same video clip, individually, on the same television. Half were told to expect a better experience thanks to HD technology, an impression backed up by posters, flyers and an extra-thick cable connected to the screen. The other half were told to expect a normal DVD signal.

Of course, the group expecting HD reported a far better viewing experience, saying it was clearer and crisper than standard def. It wasn't, of course. This basically explains why Monster Cable is still in business. [New Scientist via Consumerist]

Yes, this $76,583, 56-inch set sports a resolution of 3840x2160, which means you can cram four full-res HD feeds in there at one time. You know, for watching four football games at once, or four movies at once. Samsung announced a similar, larger set a couple years ago, but as far as we know it never actually became a real product. This thing is all real.

Sure, this thing isn't meant for normal consumers, as the price makes it clear. But that doesn't mean you can't get one if you have the scratch. Come on, go for it. It's only $76,000. [AV Watch via Engadget]

One look at this television and it's no surprise to learn that its designer was also responsible for the distinctive Citroen DS which was first produced in 1955. It features a 19-inch screen with white mask, in a tapered-hood case in deep purple with a gold trim. The controls and speaker sit in the rectangular box below and the screen can be turned independently through 150-degrees as well as angled vertically.

The set is also "dual standard", with capability to show 441 lines (which became the standard from 1952) along with a high definition facility of 819 lines, meaning it is high-definition even by today's standards. This system began in France in 1949 but never really got off the ground. Bennett-Levy speculates that Teleavia may have been trying to "future-proof" the P111 in case the French government decided to resurrect the service.

This bad boy sold for $3,825 at auction, and it doesn't even have HDMI in. Good luck hooking an Xbox 360 up to this thing, sucker! [GizMag via NotCot.org]

Given the wildly varying conditions of the show floor—and the frankly crappy source video, lighting and background LG picked for its demo TV—we can't really judge which TV actually has the best picture quality right now, but the facts do tell us something:
• Samsung and LG both use local dimming on their 55 inchers, while Sony's 52-inch TV is edge-lit
• Sony and LG have expensive built-in wireless HDMI for 1080p streaming from a paired media box
• Sony and Samung have the best "other" features, like great streaming video services
• Samsung's the cheapest, at $4500 for its 55-inch set, probably because it lacks wireless
• Sony's is the most expensive, even though it's the smallest, and lacks full-array LED backlighting, like its champion precursor, the XBR8

In person, the XBR10 is gorgeous, really pulling off the floating TV look, and the Samsung 8500 sets are slick and slim. LG's 55LHX is comparatively drab and physically more clunky, as you can see in our Sizemodo:

Red = 55" LG; Purple = 52" Sony; Yellow = 55" Samsung

All in all, there's no clear winner, and there are lots and lots of trade-offs. If you really want to blow five grand on a TV, you're going to have a tough decision for now, at least until we get 'em side by side. [More CEDIA '09 coverage]

(Okay, in fairness, it kind of is.) [XBR10@Giz]

Like the XBR10, it streams 1080p from a wireless source, plays 24p content and has 240Hz tech that you can't see. But it's 55 inches, while the biggest XBR10 is 52, and it's got THX display certification (as, um, useful as that is). What the Sony has over it is the excellent XMB media interface and Bravia Internet Video (with Amazon On Demand, Netflix and other services), though you could use the difference you pocket with the LG to pick up the Vudu-streaming BD390 Blu-ray player that has built-in Wi-Fi.

In other words, until we see how good the picture on both of these are, it's a tossup—though the best LED-backlit TVs are locally dimmed, so Sony's got a tough fight.

The lesser LH85 isn't LED-backlit, but it's got wireless HDMI too and is an also pricey $3200 and $2400 for 55-inch and 47-inch sets.

LG ELECTRONICS BROADENS HOME ENTERTAINMENT OPTIONS

WITH TWO NEW WIRELESS HDTV SERIES

Wireless LCD HDTVs Offer Flexible and Convenient Custom Installation Options

ATLANTA, Sept. 10, 2009 – Offering diverse integration options for custom installers, LG Electronics is highlighting its first-ever series of wireless LCD HDTVs, including an LED model, this week at the Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association (CEDIA) EXPO 2009 (Booth #2623).

Whether it's design, technology or screen size, LG's wireless HDTVs have something for everyone, according to Peter Reiner, senior vice president, marketing, LG Electronics USA, Inc. LG's 55-inch class* Slim Wireless LED-Backlight HDTV (model 55LHX) combines advanced technology with cutting-edge style for a TV that blends beautifully into any home environment. For those seeking a variety of design options, LG's LH85 series of wireless LCD HDTVs will be available in 47- and 55-inch class* sizes.

"As custom installers look to create a truly unique space, the wireless capability found in the 55LHX and LH85 models allow the freedom to place the HDTV anywhere in the room," said Reiner. "With wireless HDTVs, LG continues to expand home entertainment design and placement options to meet consumers' ever evolving needs."

Entertainment Freedom

Both 55LHX and LH85 wireless models allow installers the freedom to place the HDTV virtually anywhere in the room – without messy wires. To achieve this wireless experience, LG uses a supplied media box to transmit an uncompressed Full HD 1080p signal with virtually no interference or delay directly to the TV. The HDTVs can receive a wireless signal up to 30 feet away, allowing consumers to hook all content sources (such as a cable or satellite box, Blu-ray disc player, game console and home theater systems) into one box.

Enhanced Picture Quality

The 55-inch LHX model features superior picture quality with an elegant ultra-slim design – less than one-inch thick at its thinnest point. This unit has attained THX Display Certification. This certification ensures that the 55LHX delivers exceptional images, bringing a more immersive and enjoyable movie, broadcast and video game experience to consumers' living room. Since THX certification begins during the initial product design phase, every product detail is meticulously mapped to THX standards and tested in laboratory and home theater environments to ensure quality, usability and compatibility.

By presenting HD and standard-definition content at the maximum resolution with the correct color and luminance level, the LHX provides consumers a crisper, clearer image. To achieve this, LG uses a full-array LED backlighting system with local dimming technology, for precise picture control resulting in deeper blacks, wide color gamut and an incredible 5,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio. This model also incorporates TruMotion 240Hz technology for smooth motion during fast-action scenes.

LG's LH85 series delivers an 80,000:1 contrast ratio for deeper blacks and greater picture detail. Additionally, the LH85 series features LG's 24p Real Cinema technology that allows consumers to enjoy a true cinematic experience at home, the way the movie was intended to be seen. For those that want more from their HDTV, the LH85 also includes USB 2.0 functionality allowing easy access to MP3 files and viewing of JPEG photos for a more enjoyable TV viewing experience.

ISFccc Calibration Options

Those seeking advanced calibration based on their own home theater environment, will appreciate LG's ISFccc option on both the 55LHX and LH85 series. The professional ISF calibration helps to deliver picture quality, representing what filmmakers intended viewers to see.

Using the LG Expert Mode, an ISF-certified calibration technician will use professional equipment to calibrate the HDTV using ISF parameters based upon individual home theater environments and ambient lighting. Once calibrated to the optimal setting, the calibrations are saved as ISF "Day" and ISF "Night" modes. With ISFccc, LG offers a superior 10-point calibration. This provides an extra level of precision for gray scale calibration resulting in a more uniform picture.

Energy Savings

With Intelligent Sensor, both wireless models automatically optimize the picture to the lighting conditions in the room for a personalized and more enjoyable viewing experience; and potential energy savings. Both the LHX and LH85 series are Energy Star 3.0 compliant, and with LG's "Smart Energy Saving" package, which consists of features such as backlight control options and video mute, LG further paves the way toward greater energy savings, while also allowing consumers to customize their viewing experience.

The 55LHX will be available soon at a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $4,799 and the LH85 series will be available later this Fall in 55- and 47-inch class* screen sizes with MSRPs of $3,199 and $2,399, respectively.

LG ELECTRONICS BREAKS BARRIERS IN HOME ENTERTAINMENT

WITH SEAMLESS PANEL LCD HDTVs, LED BY STUNNING NEW LED MODELS

Sleek SL Series Models Couple Advanced Display Technology, Single-Panel Design

ATLANTA, Sept. 9, 2009 – Breaking barriers in home entertainment, LG Electronics today introduced a "Full HD" LED LCD HDTV – that looks almost as thin as the single sheet of glass it resembles.

Introduced for the U.S. market here this week at the Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association (CEDIA) EXPO 2009 (Booth #2623), the new 47- and 42-inch class* SL90 series HDTVs feature LED lighting and other display technologies developed by LG Electronics.

"LG continues to break barriers in design and technology with its stylish high-definition televisions, like our SL80 and 90 series," said Peter Reiner, senior vice president, marketing, LG Electronics USA, Inc. "These new ultra-slim series of LCD HDTVs position LG at the forefront of providing a new entertainment experience to consumers – one that focuses as much on design as it does on creating a more immersive home entertainment experience."

Unlike conventional LCD TVs, where the panel is recessed slightly within a thick plastic frame, LG's new series of LCD HDTVs use a single-layer design and narrow bezel to create these stunning sets, designed to maximize the viewing experience as well as enhancing the home interior.

LG uses a special film lamination technology for better color tuning, gradation and reduction of glare – all in a sleek, minimalist package. The lamination process completes the flat surface, virtually eliminating the visible line between the screen and the bezel when the set is turned off.

LG's latest masterpiece, the SL90 series, sports a depth of just 1.15 inches, making it a beautiful window into a new world of home entertainment, according to Reiner. "Inside its glossy enclosure, LG's SL90 hides technology that produces a great picture and makes every program and movie even more entertaining," he said.

For example, the LED LCD screen helps produce an extremely high dynamic contrast ratio of 3,000,000:1 for truer blacks and finer gradations between grays. An additional benefit of the film lamination process is to provide anti-glare properties to the screen, reducing distracting reflections and to help ensure that everyone in the room has a cinema-quality experience.

The SL90 series also incorporates advanced display and calibration options, providing home theater enthusiasts and custom installers a sleek new approach to home entertainment. With TruMotion 120Hz technology, the SL90 reduces motion blur and creates more natural looking images for a better viewing experience. By responding quickly to color changes, LG's 120Hz technology provides superior picture quality at different viewing angles.

The SL90 series will be available later this Fall in 47- and 42-inch class* screen sizes at manufacturer's suggested retail prices of $2,599 and $2,099 respectively.

Expansive Entertainment Options

Also on display at CEDIA Expo this week is LG's SL80 series of LCD HDTVs, which shares a similar stunning single-layer design with the SL90, using a sleek edge-to-edge panel of glass over a slim bezel. This design makes the screen and bezel appear to blend seamlessly together.

"The SL80, with its slim style boasts a depth of just a mere 1.8 inches. The combination of this unique design with slim depth makes the screen appear larger and helps draw viewers in, for a more engaging viewing experience," Reiner explained.

The SL80 boasts TruMotion 240Hz technology to improve motion picture response time so consumers experience a smoother, more natural picture during fast-action scenes. Additionally, LG's anti-glare filter on both the SL80 and SL90 reduces glare to provide a more pleasant viewing experience even in brightly-lit rooms.

For a complete cinematic home experience, the SL80 has a dynamic contrast ratio of 150,000:1 for amazing clarity and color detail. The SL80 series utilizes slim CCFL technology to achieve its dramatically thin profile. Delivering a compelling visual experience, the SL80 series is less than 1.8 inches thick at its slimmest point.

The SL80 series is available now in 42-, 47-, and 55-inch class screen sizes* at MSRPs of $1,599, $1,899 and $2,799 respectively.

Advanced Calibration Options

For easy, self-calibration, the SL80 and SL90 both include LG's Picture Wizard technology. Picture Wizard provides consumers with on-screen reference points for key picture quality elements, such as black level, color, tint, sharpness and backlight levels. Now, consumers have the ability to calibrate their LG HDTV with an easy-to-use calibration process that takes the guesswork out of picture adjustments and eliminates the need to purchase separate calibration tools.

For consumers looking for advanced calibration, the SL series offers ISFccc calibration options to deliver superior picture quality to more closely represent what filmmakers intended viewers to see. Using the LG Expert Mode, an ISF-certified technician professionally calibrates the HDTV using ISF parameters based upon individual home theater environments and ambient lighting.

Once calibrated to the optimal setting, the calibrations are saved as ISF "Day" and ISF "Night" modes. With ISFccc, LG offers a superior 10-point white balance calibration capability, providing an extra level of precision for gray scale calibration for a more uniform picture.

Smart Energy Savings

As with all of LG's 2009 HDTVs, the SL90 and SL80 models feature Smart Energy Savings technology. These new sets meet the newest Energy Star® 3.0 ratings and come equipped with Intelligent Sensor, which senses the ambient light in the room and adjusts color and brightness accordingly and can also save energy. Additionally, a mechanical on/off switch eliminates standby power consumption completely, if desired.

[LG]

While many TV makers are using polarized glasses in their 3D concepts, Sony's plans involve high-definition active shutter glasses that alternate the image for the left and right eye. Hopefully they won't make me cross-eyed like my old 3DFX Voodoo shutters did. [Sony]

This leak is all according to an unnamed source, so don't get too worked up, but supposedly Sony is set to announce the product at next week's IFA in Berlin. Panasonic has already committed to work on 3D TVs, but Sony could still be the first to get a product out the door. We'll have to wait until next week to find out if there's any truth to the rumor. [Wall Street Journal]

The design is both clever and functional, with the display's ports tucked behind the monitor in some sort of cross between a folded piece of paper and a photo frame. In turn, the necessarily hardware becomes its own stand, and the display can tilt, too (not that the viewing angle on most OLEDs is necessarily lacking).

LG's premium OLED will be released in Korea this November. And don't be surprised if/when you see a $2000+ pricetag on the thing. [Flickr via OLED Info and Engadget]

The 15-incher will officially debut at the IFA 2009 show in Berlin, LG execs told Reuters, after which it will sell first in Korea before making its way overseas sometime after November.

And better still, at least for OLED fans, is word that LG is also preparing a 40-inch OLED product in the "not so distant future." We probably don't have to tell you that this "product" will undoubtedly be "expensive." [Reuters]

A whopping 33 HDTV models are on sale in the August 30th circular, including $1100 off several high-end Samsung LCDs. There are some nice Blu-Ray and stereo packages as well, sometimes up to $1500 off the regular price.

Apparently the start of football season is also the start of the big-screen buying season, although we wonder what Best Buy'll have to cut come Black Friday. Still, if you're in the market for a giant TV, next week might be the time to make the plunge. [HDGuru]

I only had it set up in my living room for a short while. A little HBO, some movies, not much gaming at all. But it would have been long enough to pick apart a TV by just watching it. And during that time Sony's picture defied any major complaints. Standard definition TV looked colorful, clear and without too many artifacts, reminiscent of how good it did on ye old standard def CRTs, before flat panels started hamfisting the upscaling. On the high end, High definition content from a Blu-ray disc felt like pricks from hypodermic needles, 1920 x 1080 of them, filled with a solution of video joy suspended in photons, as well as some unknown meds that made my chest tighten and my eyes unable to blink. It was by far the best LCD I'd ever seen, and as David Katzmeier from CNet said when he reviewed it, one of the best sets ever, although not as fine of a picture as the now extinct Pioneer Kuro plasma sets.

Sony's engineers went to remarkable lengths to create it, almost as if the ghost of Sony's founding fathers came down and rekindled the engineering pride of the company, telling them to spare no measure to create the TV. "Use LEDs! Use three or four of them for every one those bastards in Korea do!" What resulted was a unique set of discrete red, green and blue LEDs—two of the dimmer greens in every triad— repeating the set up into a backlighting array. Each of the different color LEDs would be calibrated in real time, adjusting for color and brightness output. And that's after they were matched for similar qualities. Apply localized dimming, for a set only an LED fanatic could dream of. And the result was fantastic but without implying anything about its reliability, it is curiously prototype-like in many ways.

The set's large number of discreet color LEDs makes it heavier, more power hungry and thicker than most LED LCD sets, fitting somewhere in physical profile between other LED LCD sets and plasmas. A year and change after its revolutionary release, the set finds itself in murkier waters that make it impossible to justify its extravagance—another hallmark of cutting edge prototype-like technology. And there's competition. Kind of!

Having said how wonderful it looks, this set is a strange creature, born right before the economic crash wiped out the chance that high end sets, like Mitsu's laser TV or Pioneer's Kuros, would sell well. Yet it exists at the same time as its cheaper and poorer performing successors like the Non-LED XBR9.

Markets equalize all. Right now, the XBR8 still has a wildly expensive, with an MSRP of almost $4000 for a 46-incher. Thankfully, because of the set's age, they're going for $2600 on Amazon, which is better, but still over the MSRP of some competing sets that look almost—almost—as good. The XBR9 is $2600 MSRP and can be had for under 2 grand. For about the same price as the XBR9, you can get the LG LH90 in a 47 inch size, backlit by white LEDs with localized dimming. David K. over at CNet says its almost as good, visually.

Somehow, I'm still drawn to the only shipping LCD that uses separate red, green, and blue LEDs. Maybe once the retailers forget how special it is, and the final units are put on clearance as last year's model, I'll pick one up at a steal. More than likely, that sub $2k price point will fill up with better and better sets using simpler and more production friendly technology that'll make me wonder what I was lusting about in the first place. Until then, I still love the XBR8. And without any benchmarks, you'll just have to take my word for it that this set is something special, if not also an unrealistic set to own.