Best Seller this week: LG 32″ 32LD350 HDTV

LG has a sterling reputation with us at SS, and now comes a major sales courtesy of Amazon on a very nice 32″ unit perfect for any bedroom or spare room in the house: how’s a nice 32″ unit for $309? That’s 31% off the normal list price, and its currently the number 1 HDTV seller on the site for a very good reason.

We’ve seen some interesting patterns among the top sellers of late. Mostly LG and Samsung (the former title holder for Amazon top seller) have jockeyed for the top position on the popular merchant destination on the web, and its only this week that finally LG has claimed the crown for top seller.

Here’s the link to the site to check out the sale, grab it while its hot!

3rd and 4th Place: Sony and LG respectively, LCD sales

You know the market is pretty topsy-turvy when Vizio is so dominant with LCD HDTV sales, and a company like LG is in 4th place (and very far behind indeed). Curious is the word we’d use.

Now we know the raw reasoning behind this number: Vizio is prominently featured at Wal-Marts across the country, and their prices are pretty tough to beat. Never mind their pure stats with contrast ratio, etc are inferior to Sony and LG. Marketing and decent technologies have combined with low prices to make a juggernaut the other companies cannot ignore.

Raw numbers: Vizio captured a 27.6 percent market share, shipping roughly 2.9 million units in the US last year, a huge number. Samsung was second (kind of a surprise) with a 20.6 percent market share, shipping about 2.1 million sets total. Sony was third with 10.1 percent market share while LG was fourth with 9.4 percent.

On The Comeback Trail: Plasma?

We’ve been on and off supporters of the Plasma HDTV format for awhile, and for awhile thought it may be dying, but pre-Super Bowl sales would tell a very different tale, as the numbers suggest.

View the rather obvious numbers: Research firm NPD Group states unit sales of Plasma sets skyrocketed 45 percent during the 1 week period leading up to this year’s Super Bowl, which was played on February 6, and real revenue from Plasma sets jumped 11 percent this year compared to last year’s big sports week, which is a statistically significant number indeed.

We have been a little cautious about the future of Plasma, but it appears buyers are deciding the format’s future for us, and we like the guts of buyers right now in pulling out their wallets for what is considered underdog technology right now.

Early Party: Vizio celebrates its reign as LCD champ?

All of the numbers are not in, but early indications are that Vizio is once again the HDTV sales champion for last year, 2010. It’s the first place sales king for LCD’s, and no real surprise: their presence in Wal-Mart, low prices and decent technology have allowed it to ascend fairly easily, in reality. Read on:

Industry analysts will reveal all the numbers later this week but according to Vizio its LCD HDTVs have outsold all others, again. Specifically, it has again rated as the #1 seller of LCDs in North America according to DisplaySearch and #1 seller of LCDs in the US according to iSuppli by carving out a 27.6% share of the market, the largest for any seller since 2004.

Among some of us in the home theater community there’s still, deserved or undeserved, a perception of the company as simply a cheap, low end manufacturer that’s not as reliable as others but with results like these it looks like the rest of the market will be the ones with something to prove in 2011.

Our early gut feeling tells us 2011 won’t be that different really, as Vizio’s solid quality/low price combo continues to dominate the marketplace in sheer units moved.

Sales on the Up: 40″ and up HDTV sales jumped in 2010

In earlier reports, we were not quite as rosy about sales for big-screens last year, but as of the latest data compiled by Quixel Research, and reported by Twice Magazine.

The straight numbers: Quixel states big-screen set sales increased 56 percent in the fourth quarter of 2010, compared to the third quarter. From 2009 to 2010, overall sales rose 17 percent, which is a very nice jump indeed, especially given the economic climate of late in many locations around the globe.

The obvious first reason: declining prices. Prices above 40″ have rapidly declined due to improving manufacturing costs and cheaper technology overall. It’s nice to see that lower prices is propping up the market far more than we thought late last year, and we hope it continues.

Big Target: LG and Samsung want to sell 15 million 3D HDTVs this year

Yes, we’ve frequently spoke about the limitations and low expectations of the 3D HDTV format, but LG and Samsung (two companies we appreciate and admire) plan on trying to aim on selling 15 million combined HD 3D units this year, if a recent projection report is accurate. Here’s more scoop for your reading pleasure:

Here’s one way to solve a chicken-and-egg dilemma: crank out 15 million chickens. That’s seem to be the plan for Samsung and LG, anyway — Samsung plans to sell 10 million 3D TVs this year, up five times from the two million it sold last year, while LG plans to sell some 5 million. Now, it’s unclear whether this increase in sales will come as a result of consumer demand for 3D or simply because almost all new TVs will be 3D-capable, but we’re hoping that pesky 3D content problem will get a lot better once more people can actually view it — assuming anyone actually wants to wear the glasses, that is.

We really like LG, but given the sales of 3D over the holidays (read: poor), we aren’t optimistic about their projections.

3D Gamble: LG betting big time on 3D HDTV with new units

LG is taking a huge gambit: betting that 3D HDTV will hit it big as the experience evolves and prices go down. We’re usually big LG fans, but this move we aren’t too sure of really in the long run.

The flat-panel company announced at the most recent CES that it was separating from other TV makers to implement its own FPR technology for 3DTVs and now they’ve started shipping in Korea, starting with the LW5700 pictured here. Here’s a quick breakdown of the technology, and it could mean a bit of a new approach for the 3D medium at home.

Their new approach involves putting a special film over the LCD screen (sorry, no plasmas, Panny fans) which allows users to grab up their cheap “flicker free” passive 3D glasses and not the much more expensive active shutter 3D glasses. This could cut the cost of owning a 3D TV quite a bit.

LG’s gambit will migrate to the US in mid-March or so, and we’ll see how well it does. No prices or details released as of yet.

Online Price Dip: $440 for a 40″ Toshiba 1080p HDTV?

Prices are continuing to slide downwards for new HDTV units, seemingly hitting new lows every few weeks now.

Amazon has, for example, a really cool deal on a 40″ 1080p Toshiba HDTV with a USB connection and loads of good features, well-rated on the site as well: $440, brand new? Pretty amazing indeed, as our predictions of pricing sliding downwards is coming true pretty rapidly. We only hope this spurs slightly lagging sales into the new 2011 model year, as technology and TVs are looking better overall than they ever have.

It’ll be curious how many more deals like this will pop up as vendors seek to clear inventories following the big Super Bowl push.

New Channel: 24/7 HDTV 3D channel to be added soon, 3net

We have frequently lamented the future of HD 3D, but yet another seeker of 3D fortune has sprung up, and we aren’t sure what to think really. It could be a huge success, or with its limited viewership (DirecTV only at first apparently), it could crash and burn. Read on:

The number of 24/7 broadcasting 3D channels in the US will go from one to three next week, now that Sony, Imax and Discovery have announced the launch of their channel, 3net, on DirecTV alongside its existing n3D channel and ESPN 3D, which will start looping its sports videos 24/7 on Valentine’s Day. Scheduled to go live at 8 p.m. Sunday night on channel 107 it promises fresh debuts all month with a new show added to the rotation every night at 9 p.m. It’s big promise is to “offer viewers the largest library of native 3D entertainment content in the world by the end of 2011″ although any 3D TV owners who don’t have DirecTV would probably just be glad if it got added to their channel lineups anytime soon.

We’ll keep you updated as this goes along. No predictions yet, so we’ll where it leads.

Legal Battles VII: LG vs Sony?

It appears LG is on the warpath a bit, and now they’re going after Sony according to recent reports (after Sony filed its own case). Accusations include patent infringement regarding the Bravia and the PS3, so this one will be duked out with a lot at stake. Read on:

Late last year, Sony smacked LG with claims of patent infringement, and now the Korean company is swinging back with complaints of its own. LG reportedly filed two claims with the ITC on February 4th, accusing Sony devices — including Bravia and PlayStation 3 — of stepping on eight separate LG patents. We knew something like this couldn’t be far behind Sony’s ITC filing and accompanying federal court case, and we’re equally unmoved to hear LG is firing back with its very own civil suit, recently filed in California. Last year we saw patent infringement suits spread like meningitis in a college dorm, and if this dispute is any sign, we can expect to see more of the same in 2011.

Lawsuits ar becoming the norm in the HDTV industry unfortunately, but hey, in the long run, innovation and competition is what makes better tech and prices for all of us.

Surprise, Not Quite: Glasses-free 3D HDTV selling slowly in Japan

Yes, we’re all truly shocked indeed….glasses-free 3D HDTV units released by Toshiba, their GL1 line, is selling pretty slowly in Japan right now. We weren’t super jazzed about it at release time when we covered it, but there you go. More here:

In truly surprising news, it appears that a combination of high prices, small sizes and a somewhat questionable viewing experience have caused Toshiba’s new GL1 line of glasses-free 3DTVs to sell more slowly than the company expected. In their first month of availability the 20-inch set, priced at 240,000 yen ($2,940), sold around 500 units while its 12-inch cousin sold even less than that, despite projections both would sell at least 1,000 units. Don’t think Toshiba’s letting its hard work go the way of the old Sony XEL-1 OLED TVs just yet, as we saw at CES, it’s still committed to bringing autostereoscopic 3D in larger screen sizes to the masses despite the potential technological hurdles like providing more viewing angles for the 3D effect.

Once larger units come out at reasonable prices, that will be the real test, we think.

More HDTV ‘Problems’: Actress says HDTV reveals too much

In yet another article about the ‘dangers’ of actors and TV performers about HDTV, actress Kelli Williams of Lie to Me states that due to the detail of HD, actors should actively avoid getting plastic surgery. She says actors can start to look ‘freaky’ in HD because of too much cosmetic work.

It’s yet another report like this that stirred our thoughts and imagination (and a little chuckle as well) about the impact of HD. Who knew years ago when TV was first released to the public that one day, actors would need to change how they dressed and presented themselves due to the intense detail of the medium they worked in.

As HD lovers, we appreciate and can marvel at how the medium has changed the way we watch TV and movies at home, and its even changed the way our performers and special effects people make film today, due to the fact they need to consider how it will look on HD home theaters.

Panny Parcel: Panasonic 2011 HDTV line debuts in Japan

Panasonic usually releases new lines and news about upcoming models first in Japan, and the latest news has been released to great anticipation with news of fabulous Plasmas and HDTV recording to USB drives, among other developments. Read on:

Panasonic’s found time to show off its latest series of HDTVs in Japan, including the new top 3D-capable VT3, GT3 and ST3 generation plasmas, and DT3 LCDs, . As one might expect, the feature list is predictably similar to the US models with the next iteration of 3D panel technology, including a few Japan-specific features like VOD services and recording TV to USB drives.According to AV watch it looks like the starting prices have gone down slightly YoY as well, with the new 50-inch VT3 predicted to arrive March 18 for 380,000 yen ($4,654) down from 430,000 yen ($5,267) last year. The lower end GT3 series and new DT3 3D LCDs should arrive a week earlier on March 11, though we’ll probably have to wait until much closer to launch again to find out precisely what the predictably lower US pricing will be this time around.

We’ll of course cover any new notable releases individually if warranted. These new models look pretty cool overall.

SB Follow-Up: Wal-Mart’s HDTV Super Bowl Madness begins

Last article, we discussed Consumer Report’s picks for the best of the best among HDTV units, now we have Wal-Mart jumping in to offer great deals on HDTVs across the board. Here’s a preview of some great deals:

* Vizio 32″ LCD HDTV (720p, 60Hz, 31.5″ diagonal screen size) – $348
* Phillips 40″ LCD HDTV (1080p, 120Hz, 39.9″ diagonal screen size) – $498 ($100 savings)
* Vizio 42″ LCD HDTV (1080p, 60Hz, 42.0″ diagonal screen size) – $548
* Vizio 47″ HDTV (1080p, 120Hz, 46.1″ diagonal screen size) – $698

$698 for a 47″, 120Hz HDTV? Now that really is madness, and Vizio has established itself as a very decent brand nowadays. It’ll be interesting to see the sales totals after the Super Bowl is played, and we’ll truly hope that really helps to move units.

Big Game, Big TV: Consumer Reports picks the top 5 HDTVs for Super Bowl viewing

Consumer Reports is well-respected for their in-depth articles on a variety of topics, including HDTV units. They’ve released their top selections for Super Bowl viewing fun, including a Sony, a Panasonic, and an LG.

We agree with the list for the most part, and notice two of the five units are Plasma technology, proving that Plasma units aren’t quite as dead as previously thought. The Sony we think is priced a bit on the high side for the screen real estate you get, but the picture is excellent, according to numerous reviews, and of course you all know of our respect for everything LG in the HD department.

Here’s the link to the article itself, and happy Super Bowl TV hunting to all of you, dear readers.

Pioneer Again: Disguised as a Sharp?

It seems coming back from the dead is pretty popular these days, and Pioneer is doing a reappearance once again – but as Sharp rebadged HDTV units, if reports are to be believed. We were quite sad when Pioneer closed their Kuro brand, but good news could be coming. More here:

It was a dark day when Pioneer announced its mighty Kuro HDTVs would be no more, but the Pioneer Elite brand still has significant cachet and will return in 2011 on new high end TVs. The bad news? They will be LCDs, not plasmas, manufactured by its partner Sharp, a not entirely surprising move since this was actually the original plan for the Kuro brand back in 2008. Apparently both see potential as Sharp will gain access to higher-end AV salesrooms and integrators for its products, while Pioneer will have TVs to match its continuing Pioneer Elite Blu-ray player and receiver lines. Despite an impressive local dimming demo at CES we’re still not sure Sharp can create enough new pixels to replace what we once had, but we should find out for sure when the new models arrive the end of the year.

We’re unsure if Sharp can make a TV like Pioneer could, but seeing is believing. We’ll report if the Sharp models are up to snuff.

No HD: Small midwest town offered no HD channels by Comcast

Now everyone wants more HDTV, no matter how many channels they have. But imagine for a second if you lived in a small town serviced by Comcast (a large provider) where you were offered no HD channels at all? Its happened, and the residents aren’t happy about it. Read on via a recent TVPredictions write-up:

Think your TV provider doesn’t have enough HD channels? What if you lived in a town where the local cable TV provider didn’t offer any High-Definition channels?

That’s right. Zero HD.

Not possible, you say. Well, don’t tell that to the high-def owners who live in the Du Quoin, Illinois area. Their local cable TV provider, a company called Comcast — yes, that’s right, the nation’s largest cable TV operator — doesn’t offer a single HD channel in Du Quoin, a Southern Illinois town which has a population less than 10,000.

The newspaper reports that the mayor and city council members have been told by Comcast that the system is “old (and) antiquated.” The cable operator also has not offered much hope that anything will change anytime soon.

Now something should be done obviously, but at the same time, is it Comcast’s fault the local system is too old to handle HD? It’s a hot topic of debate locally, and hopefully they can work it all out.

Super Bowl HD: Best Buy starts up HDTV specials for pigskin epic

Every year, it seems many companies put HDTV units on sale for the big sports day, the Super Bowl, and this year is no exception.

It will feature 14 Sony TVs, and its good from January 23 to January 29, 2011. Prices are decent for the type of units they are, indeed. Here’s more info from the source:

During the promotion, Best Buy is offering discounts on 14 different Sony sets, including:

* Sony Bravia 60-inch, 1080p 120Hz LED HDTV for $1,998 ($1,001 off the regular price)
* Sony Bravia 55-inch, 1080p 120Hz LED HDTV for $1,499 ($800 off the regular price.)
* Sony Bravia 55-inch, 1080p 3D 240Hz LED HDTV for $1,798 ($1,401 off the regular price.)
* Sony Bravia 46-inch, 1080p 60Hz LCD HDTV for $763 ($86 off the regular price.)
* Sony Bravia 46-inch, 1080p 3D 240Hz LED HDTV for $1,499 ($1,000 off the regular price.)
* Sony Bravia 40-inch 1080p, 60Hz LCD HDTV for $599 ($50 off the regular price.)

We always appreciate sales, so we thought we would pass this one on to our fair readers.

Browsing News: Opera headed to HDTV net platforms

Google TV has been pretty popular of late, but it seems they’ll be getting a little competition in the near future with the announcement of Opera being introduced as an option with internet-connected HDTV units very soon. More to read:

Opera has officially announced its much-loved web browser will be appearing on Sony TVs and Blu-ray players. There’s no specific details, but it given its low-key presence at CES a few weeks ago (Sony Insider grabbed a video of it in action on the show floor — embedded after the break — unfortunately hampered by slow connection speeds) it will spread at least across the company’s 22 new connected HDTVs. Since the browser is based off of the Opera devices SDK backbone, it’s also not a stretch to imagine that Opera-enabled web applications, widgets, or other content using standards like HTML5 (no Flash, at least not yet) could piggy back onto Sony gear at some point. The real elephant in the room though is how this move relates to the Japanese tech giant’s Internet TV initiative that’s powered by Google TV. While we can’t imagine it signals Mountain View’s solution is destined for a dumping, between this and a similar move by Samsung including a browser in its own Smart TV platform, a little bit of jealousy could be just the kick Google needs to fix some glaring issues — which we’re all for, especially if it spawns a new round of potato based cajoling.

Competition is a good thing in most arenas, and so it will be in this case, we believe.

Lawsuit Settled: Vizio vs. LG

After several years and lots of legal wrangling, the ITC was just about to rule on the lawsuit between Vizio and LG when they suddenly announced a settlement between the two parties of their own accord. Settling usually ends up being the least expensive and tenuous option, and it’s good to see to two HDTV giants getting back to business as usual.

The agreement was apparently a (as of now undisclosed) cross licensing agreement of some sort, and both parties are saying they’re happy with the results. This isn’t even the first patent related lawsuit with Vizio and another party, and may not be the last either, if reports are accurate.

LG and Vizio fall on the same side of the fence when it comes to glasses-free vs. traditional 3D, so perhaps it isn’t a huge shock it turned out the way it did.

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