Consumer electronics manufacturer LG announced the launch of its Hecto 100-in. class laser television featuring both Smart TV and digital TV capabilities, and comprised of a special screen and an external Ultra Short Throw (UST) projection unit.
The laser-based illumination system uses specialized lamps embedded in the projection unit and can run for up to 25,000 hours without replacement. The set, which will be demonstrated for the first time next month at the 2013 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, offers Full HD 1080p resolution and enhanced contrast—boasting a 1,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio– as a result of LG’s laser-based illumination system.
“LG’s 100-inch class Laser TV takes projection technology and makes it perfectly suitable for both the boardroom and the living room,” LG Electronics Home Entertainment Company president and CEO Havis Kwon said in a statement. “In the coming year, LG will continue to introduce innovative TV products to provide an outstanding productivity and entertainment experience for our customers.”
Unlike previous projector-based systems, where a standard projector system requires a considerable distance from the screen to create a large image and typically needs to be installed on the ceiling, LG’s Laser TV makes installation and viewing easier by allowing users to place the lens just 22 inches (approximately two feet) from the screen, while having the flexibility to position it near the floor or fasten it to the ceiling.
The laser TV also supports LG’s Smart TV platform, which includes a host of features, including built-in WiFi, access to content providers such as Netflix or YouTube, Smart World app store and the Magic Remote, which combines a keyboard point-and-click control. The system also allows consumers to manage personal content, such as pictures, home videos and music libraries through USB drives or LG Cloud.
In addition, the Smart TV platform provides a customizable dashboard and smart connectivity features that streamline access to content from compatible smartphones, laptops, storage devices and the Internet. With built-in WiDi and WiFi direct (Miracast), content from any compatible external device can be wirelessly shared with the TV.
LG’s Laser TV has a digital tuner and two 10W built-in speakers embedded in the projection unit to support virtual surround sound, along with a complete complement of inputs, including 3 HDMIs, allow for connection of other source devices. An optical audio output, as well as RS-232 interface, will allow for integration into a variety of home theater systems. The device itself features LG’s Dynamic Arc Design, creating subtly curved surfaces that reach 5.7 inches in height. The 100-inch class screen adopts LG’s Cinema Screen design aesthetic, which limits the size of the bezel.