Can you imagine a television that makes LCD and plasma sets look as fat and ugly as their CRT predecessors do now? Well, hopefully soon you won't have to -- Sony is demonstrating prototypes of new 'OLED televisions' at CES, which do just that.
Crave is, of course, bitterly disappointed that we won't be getting our hands on a fancy new SED screen any time soon -- another new technology promising cool, slim TVs -- but the possibility of OLED TVs at least gives us something else to look forward to.
OLED screens work by using chemicals that glow when an electrical current is applied to them. This means that OLED TVs don't need a backlight, which saves power (and, by extension, kitty-cats and trees). It also increases the contrast ability of the sets -- making the blacks seems blacker and the whites seem whiter. In fact, Sony claims that its OLED TV can deliver a whopping 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio.
OLED technology also means slim TVs, and the technology doesn't suffer from the same restrictive viewing angle as LCDs.
The brightness of the screens should also prove useful if you don't have a pitch-black room to watch telly in. According to Sony chief executive Sir Howard Stringer, the screens are "breathtakingly bright".
Sony's largest OLED screen shown off to date is this 27-inch model, which delivers full high-definition 1080p joyness. At this stage the company isn't committed to large-scale production of the panels, but Crave intends to hassle Sir Howard until the company finally gives in and sends one over. Maybe we'll start an Internet petition. -IM