I know there are a huge number of people on EP that are far more informed about most technology than I am, but I saw that an OLED TV has finally been reviewed.
I've been looking forward to the S.E.D. and OLED TVs for a while (about a year and a half).  I know there are some phones out there that use OLED tech already, but I can't wait for these TVs.  There have been teaser pics of a 40" OLED, but I heard Samsung stated they will not be able to mass produce such flat panels before 2010. Not sure of a source.  The 31" is being unveiled at the CES in Las Vegas.



Smart House today got an exclusive FIRST LOOK at the new OLED TV technology from Sony and it is impressive. The first thing one notice’s is the dramatic improvement in OLED screen quality. It sharper the colours richer and there appears to be a smoother flow of the image across the screen.

The model that I reviewed was linked to a Sony PS3 Playstation and wee were able to run a Blu ray movie as well as traditional DVD content to the device.

A single TV input also allowed for the testing of a traditional free to air Full HD signal and even that was impressive with colours appear to be a lot more balanced than with an LCD TV.

On the styling side the screen is wafer thin however the control buttons which are on the top of the base unit to which the screen is attached are a little old fashioned and not in keeping with the stylish screen.

  The model that I had access to is about to go on sale in the USA for around $2,200 for an 11" screen. Called XEL-1, the TV measures just 0.12 inches thick, and delivers images that I have never seen before from both either plasma or LCD TV's.

The Xel-1 is already available in Japan and according to early reports the unit has already sold out. Sony has put the ultra-thin display on a pedestal with a flexible arm. At 11 inch the Sony XEL-1 is a nice stylish desk accessory that's ideal for a small space.

The unit which weighs two kilograms and is about 3mm thin and features a resolution of 940×540 and contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1. It also takes in input resolution up to 1080p.

Two HDMI input sources were on the back of the unit wee tested along with one external TV signal input capability.

The new OLED TV will last 30,000 hours according to Sony. However at next week's Consumer Electronics show in Las Vegas wee will see larger units ranging from 31" inches to 40" inches from both Samsung and Hitachi.  They will be pricey as they are first generation models. However this technology has legs in that it delivers an impressive image but more importantly it is stylish due to the ulta thin screen and as the size of the screens grow wee will some impressive use of the ultra thin design in homes and within commercial applications.

For both LCD and Plasma it is clear that OLED is a real threat and when size availability goes up and prices come down OLED is going to be a real thread to both LCD TV's and Plasma.

Similar OLED units to what I tested sold out almost as soon as they hit retailers' shelves in Japan. Only a day after delivery started, the first month's entire supply of 1,300 OLED TVs had changed hands at a price of just over $A$3,000.

Pros: This is one very sleek unit. In fact almost everything is irrelevant to the quality of the OLED panel and the sheer thin width of the screen and in both cases they are the best TV picture Smart House has ever seen on a TV screen.

Cons: The weakness of this early unit is the control buttons and the lack of flexibility in the arm that links the ulta thin screen with the base control unit."

source:http://www.smarthouse.com.au/Home/Q5L3H6S9?page=1

Right now they are quite expensive, but once the prices start adjusting, I hope, LCD and Plasmas are going to have to become more competitively priced.  Perhaps this will help society move further in the direction of HD?

I know there are many of you on EP who know more about this than I do, but one of the biggest things I am looking forward to about OLEDs is "(b)ecause the light-emitting layers of an OLED are lighter, the substrate of an OLED can be flexible instead of rigid. OLED substrates can be plastic rather than the glass used for LEDs and LCDs." source: http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/oled5.htm

That means use on fabric.  Some have said they believe this is already being implemented by some quick-change artists, such as David and Dania, but I'm still not quite sure. Regardless, I am really looking forward to what will come of this technology!

damn that's thin.

squee666 Wrote:and the reason there so expensive is because only sony sell the right now

it would cost more if apple was selling them.
so overpriced.

By the end of this year it might actually get to the point when I will finally sell my CRT's. My poor desk will be so happy.