LG unveils Smart TV and Cinema 3D

LG unveiled two of its core 2011 television technologies at an event in Sydney yesterday: internet connected Smart TV, and passive Cinema 3D.

LG's Smart TV promises access to movies, apps, video-on-demand, IPTV and web browsing using the company's motion-controlled Magic Motion Remote, which the company first unveiled at CES 2010.

LG has partnered locally with IPTV content producers Yahoo!7, Fox Sports, BigPond Movies and Live TV, and GoConnect with more providers to be announced in coming months.

Tim Barnes, LG's senior marketing manager of home entertainment said that IPTV will be "hugely important" in the future but it faces some initial hurdles.

"As with any technology there'll be bumps, and one of the key challenges will be speed and being able to stream, but as the streaming technology and the packet technology improves that barrier will go away", Barnes said.

Meanwhile, Cinema 3D offers a passive 3D technology similar to that used in theatres and doesn't require battery-operated active glasses. Customers can buy two sets of LG glasses for AU$19 or even use the RealD 3D glasses from the cinema.

The LG LW6500, which features both Cinema 3D and Smart TV, is due late April 2011 with pricing to be announced shortly.

LG's Smart TV platform includes video content from several content producers including some that may look familiar.

The Magic Motion remote control enables users to navigate web pages and the home screen as with a Wii-mote

Close-up of the LG Dashboard

The Smart TV Upgrader is a forthcoming product which will enable existing television owners to use Smart TV features, but unfortunately it's not compatible with the Magic Motion remote.

The LW6500 TV features a 2D-to-3D conversion circuit

The LG Cinema 3D glasses

LG also makes a set of clip-on 3D glasses which will be available for about AU$20.

LG demonstrated the Pentouch TV, a touch-sensitive display designed for e-learning