Bang & Olufsen’s new BeoVision 4-85 isn’t just another run-of-the-mill 3D TV for the unwashed masses. It’s a really pretty 3D TV, for the refined and the opulent. The 85-inch plasma screen comes encased in a high-grade aluminum frame, and combines anti-reflection coating with automated image controls, to guarantee crystal clear, Full HD viewing at any time of day. B&O’s first foray into the 3D/Full HD realm also features a BeoLab 10 central loudspeaker, which uses Acoustic Lens Technology to deliver consistently high-frequency sounds, regardless of where you’re sitting in relation to the speaker. And, much like its 103-inch brethren, this 85-incher comes with a motorized stand, which automatically elevates and tilts the screen to ideal viewing position whenever the system is turned on. Once you’ve finished marveling at the BeoVision 4-85′s robust design, you can turn it off and watch in awe, as the display magically lowers itself to “within inches” of the floor (where, incidentally, you’ll also be able to find your jaw).

No word on price ranges, but we’ll just assume your wallet will be quite empty after getting ahold of this thing.

At an event in New York City last week they announced a breakthrough in dark levels on Plasma units, telling the press that Panasonic’s new VT30 line will match the black levels of the 2009 (that’s 2 years ago!) Pioneer Kuros. The key (after reading through all the mumbo jumbo) is the new and improved louver structure of the filter that blocks reflective light from coming in, which in turn blocks ambient light — and Kuro fans around the globe moan in sadness as its king possibly falls.

We’ll have to wait to see if this indeed comes to pass, with the odd note that it took 2 years before a company caught up in this category to where Pioneer was previously.

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.

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.

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.

TVPredictions.com has published its top 10 predictions for 2011 and HDTV in general, many of which we agree with. In particular, their stance on 3D HDTV and (lack of a) future right now, the expansion of Blu-Ray as a medium in general, and DirecTV shuffling their offerings to channels with more friendly lease rates, to the detriment of viewers, no doubt. The slow emergence of Plasma as a contender in the HD race wouldn’t surprise us either.

Read more here: Link

Abes of Maine has a very nice Samsung PN58C550 58″ 1080p Plasma HDTV for $1285 and we include a $15 off with coupon code “LOYALTY15” = $1270 with free shipping too? Yes, indeed, only here will you see this great price.

Walmart.com has a great deal on a huge TV from a relatively unknown brand: a Proscan 55LC55S240V69 55” LCD 1080p 240Hz HDTV for $999.00 with free in-store pickup. Amazing price for the size and features, decent reviews too.

Thanks for joining us and have a happy new year!

Panasonic’s plasma sets get most of the attention, and perhaps rightfully so, but it’s actually the company’s new LCD lineup for Japan that can help you make use of your woefully neglected SDXC cards. In addition to compiling terrestrial HDTV footage on a standard external hard drive, the Panasonic Viera G3 and X3 can record to a new SD card slot as well, archiving up to five hours of 1080p footage on a ‘standard’ 64GB SDXC card. We put ‘standard’ in quotes because while that’s presently the typical capacity for that particular designation of flash, it’ll still cost you upwards of $200 to get in on the ground floor, and that’s a pittance compared to what Panasonic’s charging for its own. Who said magnetic storage was dead? If Tokyo’s where you hang your hat, expect both the G3 and X3 series to hit stores near you in February of next year.

We’re always a little sad the best items always usually start in Japan vs. US shores, but assuming it does well, it’ll arrive here too at one point.

iSuppli states that LCD shipments this year will be 31.9 million TVs, a 1.2 percent drop from 2009. The reasons are obvious: The economic troubles and a slightly slower drop in prices than originally expected.

In other interesting notes, iSuppli also indicates that Plasma makers have done a much more effective job of communicating the benefits of their hardware versus the LCD makers, which we sort of agree with. Many inside analysts think Plasma offers a better picture than LCD overall. That’s subjective of course, but even so, many critics also feel the same way as a whole.

But the Wall Street Journal states: LCD’s recession “represents a shocking reversal for a U.S. LCD TV market that has expanded robustly during every year since volume shipments commenced in 2006.” But iSuppli thinks that LCD will rebound in 2011, when the economy improves, which we also agree with.

Here’s even more insanity available for your perusal:

Coby 15-Inch LCD HDTV — $99.99
Dynex 24-inch 1080p LED HDTV — $189.99
Insignia 42-Inch 720p Plasma HDTV — $369.99
LG 32-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV — $379.99
Panasonic 46-Inch 720p Plasma HDTV — $499
Panasonic 50-inch 1080p Plasma HDTV — $699.99
Samsung 32-inch 720p LCD  HDTV — $329.99
Samsung 55-inch 1080p LCD HDTV — $1499.99
Sony 46-inch 1080p LCD HDTV — $698.99
Toshiba 55-inch 1080p LCD HDTV — $969.99

It’s clear this holiday season that retailers are slashing to (pretty much) the bare bones, and will take few prisoners to grab your HDTV dollar.