This weekend in the jolly ol’ US of A, LG is preparing to launch its first Google TV version 2.0.
The TVs are 3D LED and are available in two monstrous sizes, either 47-inch (US$1600) or 55-inch (US$2100). This may very well be the TV which brings Smart LED’s out of the shadows and into the limelight.
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The Apple factor
Samsung has already pretty much cornered the market in Smart TVs, and plans to unveil plenty of fresh, new models in the coming year. Apple TV may be both Samsung and LG’s greatest competition though and analysts close to the tech say that Apple TV “will spur cooperation within the non-Apple camp such as strategic alliances among Google, Samsung, LG and smart TV content providers.”
Let’s call it the iPhone effect. Before Apple unleashed iPhones into the wild, touchscreen was cumbersome at best. Now, everyone and their uncle have pushed out a fairly decent touchscreen mobile phone. Does it take a technological innovation from Apple to raise the bar?
LG’s Google TV will have its own ace-in-the hole, care of an updated “Netcast” the custom designed LG Smart TV UI.
Looking to the future
The source continues: “Subsidies for Apple TV will be offered by telecom operators and cable providers, which should shorten the TV replacement cycle by about two years from the previous eight to 10 years.” This all points to big plans in store for Apple TV. As these devices evolve, Apple will, for better or worse, continue to innovate current tech until it obeys its mighty will.
One option is to create “glass-free 3D TV’s” which replace LCD for OLED panels.