CES '08 - Sony - 11" OLED TV

[Lenny]

We've all heard of HDTV's, yes? LCD and Plasma.

There's a new one on the market, and it's been developed by Sony - the OLED TV (the model is the Drive XEL-1 OLED TV). It isn't HD (too small a resolution - 960 x 540), but it's probably got the best picture in the world.

The OLED display (Organic Light Emitting Diode) has a contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1 - the closest HDTVs are Pioneer's Project Kuro Elite plasmas, which are only 20,000:1.

The 11" model of the OLED has just gone on sale (December 1st 2007 in Japan), and will set you back $1700. So what's so special about it other than the contrast ratio?

3mm.

The OLED display is 3mm thick.

Sony are currently prototyping a 27" model at CES '08, which I think may be available in the second half of the year.

Piccytures:

http://gearmedia.ign.com/gear/image/article/824/824128/sony-drive-xel-1-oled-tv-gets-official-20071001013331915.jpg

http://gearmedia.ign.com/gear/image/article/824/824128/sony-drive-xel-1-oled-tv-gets-official-20071001013332305.jpg

http://gearmedia.ign.com/gear/image/article/824/824128/sony-drive-xel-1-oled-tv-gets-official-20071001013259526-000.jpg

http://gearmedia.ign.com/gear/image/article/824/824128/sony-drive-xel-1-oled-tv-gets-official-20071001013337024.jpg

The stand beneath the OLED panel houses a terrestrial digital tuner, a pair of 1-watt speakers, and inputs for HDMI, USB, and Ethernet.

http://uk.gear.ign.com/articles/824/824128p1.html

[!King_Amazon!]

This might be a noob question, but why does it have HDMI inputs if it isn't an HDTV?

[Lenny]

I haven't a clue.

It probably supports 576i (which, surprise it or not, is a HD resolution), and even if you don't set it up for that I reckon the picture quality would be fantastic regardless.

Alternatively, it may be the design of the range - the 27" TV for example should be HD as it's a lot bigger than 11", and rather than have to change the design to add HDMI ports for the bigger TVs, Sony might have just stuck in an HDMI port for every model.

[WetWired]

I'd assume that even without the resolution, it would benefit from a digital feed.