LG Electronics Shines Spotlight on New 55-inch, 3D OLED TV at Consumer Electronics Show

LAS VEGAS—LG Electronics spotlighted it new 55-inch 3D OLED TV at a press conference in Las Vegas on Monday as the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show opened.

our editor recommends

Consumer Electronic Spending Will Exceed $1 Trillion Worldwide in 2012, CEA Predicts

Analyst: Global Consumer Electronics Revenue Could Reach One Trillion in 2011

100 3D TV Channels By 2014, Study Says

Panasonic unveils new 3D TV

The OLED display, which had been anticipated, is just 4mm thick and is part of LG’s 2012 home entertainment product lines announced at the show.

“2011 was challenging for economies around the world, but was a pivotal year for LG,” Wayne Park, president and CEO of LG Electronics USA, said. “In a difficult economy LG US increased revenues by 8%, sales exceeded $12 billion in North America.”

In 2012, 50% of LG’s displays will support 3D and will be Smart TVs, including the 55-inch OLED display and new 84-inch “Ultra Definition” 3D Smart TV.

LG’s director of new product development Tim Alessi said that when it comes to 3D, “people vote with the pocketbook, and more and more of that is going toward passive 3D.” He reported that passive displays now represent more than 33% of the market, and added that LG’s share has exceeded Sony’s and that Samsung “is square in our sights.”

Newly-announced features in LG’s Cinema 3D TV technology include a 3D depth control option and improvements to its 2D-to-3D conversion feature. For single-view use, LG will preview a glasses-free display monitor and laptop.

Underscoring another CES trend—a more natural interface--LG revealed that it will offer new voice recognition and gestural control features for its Magic Remote remote control for its Cinema3D Smart TVs.

In the mobile phone category, LG previewed its Spectrum smartphone, exclusively for Verizon Wireless.

LG also announced a partnership with ESPN to offer 720p HD mobile video on the new Spectrum through ESPN’s ScoreCenter app while connected to the Verizon 4G LTE network or Wi-Fi.

Spectrum features include a 4.5 inch True HD In-Plane Switching (IPS) display; Full HD (1080p) video; Android 2.3 (upgradable to Android 4.0); and Dolby Digital Plus which allows users to stream up to 7.1 channels of surround sound.

The Spectrum, slated for Jan. 19 availability, will list for $200 with a two-year contract.Spectrum features include a 4.5 inch True HD In-Plane Switching (IPS) display; Full HD (1080p) video; Android 2.3 (upgradable to Android 4.0); and Dolby Digital Plus which allows users to stream up to 7.1 channels of surround sound.

The Spectrum, slated for Jan. 19 availability, will list for $200 with a two-year contract.