With the year drawing to a close it’s awards time and we’re very pleased to see LG’s panel screen televisions do so well. In What Plasma & LCD TV magazine’s December issue, we scooped several prizes and plaudits. The LG Scarlet 32LG6000 won Best HD Ready 32″ LCD TV, with a stirring commendation from the judges:

In design terms alone, this TV stands apart from the competition, with a cheeky red rear to liven up even the most drab of living rooms. But, scratch beneath the fashionable surface, however, and you’ll find some significant HD chops. A whopping four HDMIs lead the charge, flagging up that this TV lives and breathes hi-def. And so it goes: colours are vibrant and cinema mode pictures are silky smooth - a TV with brains as well as beauty. Those invisible speakers are seriously kick-ass too!

Its counterpart, the LG Scarlet 47LG7000, won the Best 46-47″ LCD TV award as well:

A feature count headed by Bluetooth may catch the eye, but it’s the Scarlet’s picture quality that’ll have you feverish. All of this 47-incher’s features and settings come together to produce the most glorious HD images from LG so far. Muscular HD performance doesn’t come at the expense of standard definition pictures, mind: they are also amongst the best we’ve seen. A generous quartet of HDMIs seals the deal. LG enters the big league.

The plasmas also had a great showing. The LG 32PG6000 won “Bargain of the Year” overall:

Time to tick some boxes. Stunning ‘frameless’ design? Tick. Bountiful HD-friendly connectivity? Another tick. Blur-free images and well-saturated colours? Ditto. The best black levels we’ve seen on a flatscreen this size? Definitely - and that’s because the 32PG6000 is a plasma, the world’s smallest plasma! It’s also a total steal for the asking price.

Meanwhile, it’s bigger brother the LG 42PG6000 won “Most Stylish TV”:

Identikit TVs begone! LG is unquestionably leading the way when it comes to designing screens with beauty as well as HD processing brawn - and this TV is the cutest thing we’ve clapped eyes on this year [...] A sumptuous glossy black finish complements this 42-incher’s revolutionary super-flat fasci, giving the impression that the screen and frame is made from a single sheet of glass. It’s aleady a design classic in our books.

As well as outright awards, LG TVs also featured in the ‘Highly Commended’ sections of several categories. The LG 42LG6100 Slimline Scarlet was described as “a breeze to use” and highly commended in the Best 42″ LCD TV category. The LG 52LG5000 was another commended LCD, in the Best 52″ LCD TV category for its “tiny price tag”. Plasma-wise, the LG 50PG6000 was highly commended in the Best 50″ Plasma category, described as “unbeatable value”, and the LG 42PG6000 won a high commendation for its single pane design in the Best 42″ Plasma TV category.

We’d like to thank the judges and What Plasma & LCD TV for their recognition - we’re enormously pleased to see they think of our TVs as highly as we do. Roll on 2009!

The other day I featured the LG4000 LCD TV and a product video with the excellent Edd talking about it and its features. Next up is a guide to the LG7000, the top end LCD television from LG for 2008/9. Edd shows off the TV’s connectivity via Bluetooth and USB, as well as the Intelligent Sensor technology which helps save power as well as reducing eyestrain. He also covers the excellent picture quality and different AV modes, and the Clear Voice technology that enhances the sound experience:

The LG7000’s specs ae there to check out on the main LG site if you want more information - and if you have any thoughts on it, feel free to add a comment below.

In the latest of our videos featuring our top TV trainer Edd Dale (previously - the LG4000 and the PG7000) we look at another new Plasma out this year from LG, the PG6900. The PG6900 is LG’s plasma with a built-in Freeview recorder. It has all the top quality features of an LG plasma, including a frameless screen, 100Hz screen for dynamic scenes, ClearVoice technology and invisible speakers. But as well as that, it has a Freeview+ recorder, with 160GB capacity (which equates to approximately 86 hours recording time at standard quality). Here’s Edd introducing the PG6900 and a how-to to get the most out of it:

The other day I featured the LG4000 LCD TV and a product video with the excellent Edd talking about it and its features. Edd’s just as knowledgeable about plasmas as he is about LCDs, and so today he’s here to present LG’s top-of-the-line Plasma, the PG7000. It comes in 50″ and 60″ versions, featuring superb quality picture suited for films and sport, at 100Hz with a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio. The sound from the invisible speakers, tuned by Mark Levinson and enhanced by LG’s ClearVoice technology. And round the back it also offers top quality connectivity, including both USB 2.0 and Bluetooth as well. Finally, don’t forget the gorgeous design with the single layer of frameless glass. Here’s Edd to tell you more:

If you’re interested then check out the PG7000 on the main LG website, and if you have any thoughts or comments then share them with us below.

Continuing our popular series of TV introductions and tutorials, here’s Edd, one of our top product trainers, talking you through the LG4000 LCD television. The LG4000 is LG’s HD Ready LCD TV with integrated DVD. Edd talks about the TV’s design, sound quality and invisible speaker, as well as its environmentally-friendly power saving and his thoughts on LCD v. Plasma.

We hope you enjoy the video and if your appetite is whetted, be sure to check out both the LG4000 on the main LG website for more information.

One of the biggest technlogical stirs this week was the “holograms” featured on CNN’s US Election coverage. Alas, it turned out they weren’t quite xactly holograms. As Coolest Gadgets notes:

As well he should. You see, will.i.am is not an actual hologram, but a special effect. Technology from SportVu and Vizrt shot the footage of will.i.am live with 35 high definition cameras in a ring. These cameras captured the subject in a 3-D realtime setting, and then synced with the cameras at CNN studio.

As you can see, the effect went off without a technological hitch with perfect panning shots, but is not really a hologram. It is more of an adaptation of the “bullet-time” technology used in The Matrix.

So it’s a more fancy version of bluescreen technology so beloved of weathermen for generations past. But let’s not be too disparaging - it is really cool - flawlessly panning round the “hologram”, it did really look like 3D thanks to all those HD cameras.

Will we ever get true holograms in the TV studio? It would certainly have advantages - no more expensive jetting of stars and politicians round the world - they could do it all from the comfort of their living room. And it could of course work both ways - dangerous reporting from wars or natural disasters could become a thing of the past as reporters are just sent virtually.

And if 3D holograms in the studio can become a reality, then what about on your screen at home? TechDigest last year reported on a possible holographic TV (complete with thankfully virtual velociraptors) and boffins in Japan reckon we could have 3D TV by 2020. Perhaps it’s only a matter of time - but would it be a good thing? If those velociraptors are a little too real-looking, don’t we further blend fiction and reality? Might it not be a good thing to keep a fine divide between what is in front of us and what is just being beamed in? As the two become indisinguishable we may have some awkward questions to ask.

Coming back to the the present, take a look at what can be done now. The CNN ‘holograms’ proved perhaps to be a bit too futuristic CNN’s Anderson Cooper, who gets his Star Wars and Star Trek confused - perhaps another sign we’re progressing a bit too fast:

Today I thought we’d take a closer look at the LG 32PG6000. It is the world’s first production 32″ plasma screen television, and it’s an ideal size for more traditional style of houses and flats which have alcoves and nooks in which a larger television might not fit, or as a second plasma in your house in a smaller room. Plasmas with their richer blacks and fast response times are ideal for movies and sports, and while it may be small in size, it doesn’t compromise on style or quality

The 32PG6000 features a frameless screen with invisible speakers, which emits sound all around and not just downwards like most TV speakers. It’s certified by the Energy Saving Trust so you don’t have to worry for the environment, and it features a wide range of ports (HDMI, RGB, Component and USB) to allow for maximum connectivity. Here’s Ed, one of our TV trainers, to tell you a bit more about it:

Last night I caught the first episode of the Beeb’s new series ‘British Style Genius‘ I, like Susie at Style Bubble & I’m sure many more of the stylish bloggers out there, was really looking forward to a show with the focus on distinct British style, past & present, and not just another ‘What to not wear while looking younger &/or naked’-type show.

I rarely watch fashion/clothes shows on TV - I’m limited to Freeview/terrestial channels and most of the shows on offer don’t feel very relevant to me, although Trinny & Susanna and Gok have on occasion bestowed a new rule/guideline into my memory but I’ve never liked the idea of having your entire wardrobe imposed upon you by someone else - no matter who or how well dressed they are!

I caught an episode of ITV’s Fashion Show at the weekend and was unimpressed so I was a bit worried the Beeb wouldn’t live up to expectation either but I have to say I was pleasantly surprised last night and enjoyed the show. I even learnt a thing or two and came away with a craving for old skool Biba and Celia Birtwell prints (I somehow missed her collection for TopShop a few years ago and was kicking myself as I watched last night!) Did you see it, what did you think?

I’m pretty impressed with BBC’s sudden interest in Fashion shows -Twiggy’s Frock Exchange
has just launched too and there is also the new (to me) ‘What We Wore’ BBC Archive

In collaboration with the BBC’s British Fashion season, we bring you this unusual collection of programmes which reveal what it took to be stylish through over 250 years of British history.

Included here is the first colour series made by the BBC. Pre-dating colour TV by a decade, this is the first time it has been available to view as it was intended. It also features some surprising live models.

Witness the gradual democratisation of fashion through the ages and see how clothes began to throw off the shackles of class from the 1960s onwards.

It’s nice to see fashion being discussed and presented in a more grown up light again. They also have a monthly online fashion magazine called Thread which is ‘dedicated to bringing you the latest in eco-fabulous style’ & is really rather nice too. Good work Beeb!

Last Thursday night we held our Plasma TV bloggers event and for those of you who couldn’t make it, here’s video of George Mead, UK TV Marketing Manager for LG, taking the attendees through the range of Plasma TVs.

That was part one, but also be sure to check out part two and part three as well!

Just to run you through the three Plasma TVs again - they are the LG 32PG6000, the world’s first production 32″ Plasma, the LG PG6900, a dual-tuner Freeview+ Plasma with built-in 160GB PVR, and the LG PG70000, our top-of-the-line Plasma with Bluetooth connectivity.

Check out some of the coverage on the other blogs, including Gizmodo on the 32PG6000, as well as Gaj-It’s nice round-up of the TVs and George giving an interview with AVForums TV about our new line as well. Any questions, ask them in the comments below…

Last night we launched our three new Plasma TVs at an exclusive bloggers event at Craven Cottage football ground - just like we did for LCDs a couple of weeks ago. A good crowd turned up, including Stephen from Gadgeteer and Phil, Sally & Lee from the AVForums. George Mead, LG UK’s marketing manager for TV, showed off our three new Plasmas for the second half of 2008 as well as discussing some of our plans with the future with the attendees:

You can check out more photos of the event here. Anyway, you’re probably dying to hear more about the three new plasmas, so without further ado:

• The 32PG6000 is the world’s first production 32″ HD Plasma television with 100Hz and an built-in tuner. HD Ready with built-in Freeview, it’s perfect especially for homes who want to enjoy Plasma’s rich blacks and motion, but are restricted by small living rooms or alcoves that make fitting a larger screen awkward.
• The PG6900 is a dual-tuner Freeview+ Plasma with built-in digital video recorder, with 160GB capacity (approx 86 hours recording time at standard quality). It comes in 42″ and 50″ versions.
• The PG7000 is our top-of-the-line Plasma, in 50″ and 60″ versions. As well as superb quality picture and sound it also offers top quality connectivity, including both USB 2.0 and Bluetooth as well.

For more information check out the links for each of them, or download the product shots we have (14.6MB, ZIP) we have for some product shots. All three Plasmas will be out very shortly in the UK - no more than 3-4 weeks before you see it in the shops.

We’re proud of all three of these Plasmas, which as George pointed out, greatly expand our range of Plasma screens available on the market, and offer a lot more choice, each catering for different kinds of LG customer. The 32PG6000 especially will shake up the market we think - our research shows that rooms in the UK more likely to be small or an odd shape, making it ideal for people who have been unable until now to fit a Plasma in their house or flat. So here’s Ed from the product training team taking you through some of the features - enjoy: