Hasta La Gadget!

LG today announced two new ultra-thin LCDs. The 42- and 47-inch 1080p displays measure 0.23-inch, thanks to the company’s new Light Guide Sheet, which measures in at roughly half the size of standard Light Guide Plates.

The new displays weight 13.42 and 16.06-pounds for the 42 and 47-inch models–about half the weight of other models of their size. The new technology also boasts an improvement of NTSC from 72- to 80-percent.

Research Group NPD this week released a study tracking the sale of Blu-Ray sales in the US. According to the numbers, players have risen some 72-percent over the same period in 2008. The report also found that consumer awareness of the format is at an all time high of 92-percent.

While the drop in Blu-Ray players has been a factor in their increase in sales (the average price of a player dropped from $393 to $261), the study found that many of the consumers surveyed still find them too expensive. Other consumers said that they are satisfied with their standard definition DVD players.

For more info on the latest Blu-Ray players, we’ve got a buying guide up at PCMag.com.

There’s been some talk recently about those forthcoming sub-$100 Chinese Blu-Ray players that are expected flood the US market around the holiday season. All the while, however, the country has been developing a blue laser disc technology of its own.

The technology is called China Blue High-Definition or CBHD. The players will cost roughly half the price of their Blu-Ray counterparts in the country–about 2,000 yuan ($293 US). While the laser technology of the discs is similar to that of Sony’s Blu-Ray, the discs themselves are closer to standard DVDs, made up of two 0.6 mm discs, rather than the 1.1 mm disc and 0.1 mm protective layer employed in Blu-Ray.

More than 100 movies will be available on the format in China by year’s end.

Many car buyers look at hybrids because those autos are marketed as being better for the environment. “Green” is certainly a selling point–and now, manufacturers are using the same tactics to sell their TVs, highlighting the fact that some models use less energy and have less “bad” stuff like mercury inside. Research firm iSuppli just released the results of its U.S. TV Consumer Preference Analysis survey and found that 27.5 percent of LCD TV buyers listed green factors as an important influence, while an additional 23.1 percent further responded that green features were something they looked for in an LCD-TV.

Furthermore, more than 40 percent of respondents indicated that their TV set incorporated power savings and/or Energy Star features. But only 16 percent of respondents highlight the set’s recyclability. So while consumers are considering the power usage, end of life isn’t as much of a concern.

This is worth mentioning, because the California Energy Commission’s proposed legislation to require large-screen TVs to use 33 percent less power by 2011, and 49 percent less power by 2013 has come under attack since it was announced two weeks ago. The commission has highlighted that the new energy standards for the sets would reduce global warming and save consumers $18 to $30 a year. Yes, you read that right… $30 a year, or the savings you’d get if you just watch an hour less every week. The problem, says the Consumer Electronics Association, is that these regulations could result in a flat-out ban of large-screen sets in California (no pun intended), as most sets made today are simply not compliant.

But the point is that clearly everyone, including state regulators are looking at the small picture (again, no pun intended) of the short-term energy cost and savings. The bigger issue remains that all TVs, even the really big and expensive ones, will eventually have an end of life, And how this is handled is something that consumers aren’t thinking about, and companies are only now starting to address.

For company-by-company instructions, check out GoodCleanTech’s Electronics Recycling Superguide.

Post by Peter Suciu

You think Blu-ray’s been seeing a bump in sales lately? Just wait until players drop below $100. This holiday season will no doubt usher in a boom of new Blu-ray owners with the introduction of new players by Chinese manufacturers.

Last year’s holiday season saw players dip below $199. This year, after the introduction of the technology in China, players are expected to half that lower threshold, according to industry insiders like Samsung marketing director, Mark Leathan.