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We know you like big TVs. Otherwise you wouldn’t be in here.

But there’s big (like our 50 inch PS8000) and then there’s BIG, like this 50 ton expanding screen currently being used for U2’s 360º tour. With a screen area of over 3,800 sq feet, made up of 500,000 pixels, and expanding, contracting, and changing shape in all directions to enhance the gig experience. Or as put by creator Chuck Hoberman

“The Expanding Video Screen fuses technology, design and architecture. It’s a video display that becomes something else, a living theatrical event. This project has been a true feat of engineering, accomplished by a fantastic team of architects, engineers and artists.

I wonder how Gears of War 2 might look on that?

I’m very pleased to be able to announce the winner of our LF7700 LCD TV competition – Simon from South London, who you can see posing with the lovely TV, which was delivered earlier this week!

Simon is a stay-at-home dad… For both his and the TV’s sake I hope the kids are past the stickie fingers stage!

Massive congratulations to Simon on winning, looking forward to checking in with him in a few weeks to get his thoughts on the LF7700 and it’s FreeSat capabilities!

Thanks to everyone else who entered, sorry you can’t all be winners… But remember, there is still time to enter our Arena photography competition for your chance to win £250!

Edd Dale from LGE UK’s training team took some time out of his busy schedule to present these videos about the 2009 TV range for us. Some of them introduce new models in the range, including the LG PS8000 Plasma and this one on the LF7700 LCD TV with built-in FreeSat:

Others deal with specialized queries or explaining what the new features and technologies mean for the TV owner, such as USB connectivity or this demonstration of the – remarkable, I think, power-saving capabilities of the LG Intelligent Sensor – by constantly responding to the conditions of the surrounds the sensor makes sure your TV is just the right level of brightness needed, potentially giving you a nice saving on your Electricity bill!:

You can find all of the videos on your YouTube channel.

It’s June and the Cricket season is here and as big fans LG have created a special Fantasy Cricket World Cup game to celebrate. As someone who’s never really gotten into Cricket, I’m using this as an opportunity to try and gain some insight into the rules/scoring system and as it’s based on the World Twenty20 Cricket tournament itself, LG’s game should be a good learning experience!

Using the tournament for it’s structure means the points part of the game will start after the first group stage match on Friday, 5th June, and will run through to the final match on 21st June 2009. However, you can sign up now to create your team ahead of the matches – you receive a ‘Fantasy Budget’ to create your own team of players from the tournament. Your team will then receive points based on the real life performance of your selected cricket players.

You can join the fun at any stage but until tomorrow afternoon there is an ‘amnesty’ where you can create your team with unlimited transfer opportunities – and also the added benefit of being registered for all of the games; ensuring the most point-scoring potential.

The game is free to play and there are great prizes up for grabs for the highest scoring managers, including Arena KM900 handsets and the top prize of a 42” LG HD TV – the LF7700!
AND if you register today you will be also be entered into a prize draw to be in with the chance of winning a pair of tickets to a Twenty20 World Cup match!

Also, while every team is automatically entered into the ‘World League’, you can also enter your team into a private mini-league for competing with your friends, you’ll have to provide you’re own prizes for that league though!

If you’re joining in good luck! – But if Cricket confuses you as much as me, you might have better luck checking out our other competitions!

The LF7700 is LG’s first HD Ready 1080p LCD television with built-in Freesat and is packed with the latest technology features, including an Ethernet port for connecting viewers directly to future IPTV services. Integrated Freesat means that viewers can enjoy subscription-free BBC and ITV HD services as well as over 140 digital TV and radio channels, all packaged into a designer set.

The TV also features LG’s unique Intelligent Sensor II technology and invisible speaker system, specially tuned by renowned audio expert Mr. Mark Levinson.
The Intelligent Sensor automatically adjusts the screen’s settings for an optimal viewing experience, which means the set uses up to 69.5% less power than a standard TV and has been recommended by the Energy Saving Trust.

For your chance to win a 42” LF7700 simply email the answers to the following questions to LF7700competition at lgblog.co.uk with the title ‘42LF7700 competition’ before 7th June 2009:

1) Which award did What TV give the 42LF7700?

Which events have the LF7700 been displayed at this year?
a) The Ideal Homes Show and Grand Designs Live
b) The Ideal Homes Show and The Gadget Show
c) all of the above

(You can find the answers to these questions in our blog!)

Good luck!

It’s a busy day for LG Electronics, who have announced two new consumer and trade initiatives, launched in response to independent research that revealed 80% of UK households are confused by jargon associated with TV purchases. - You can find more info in our post about the research when it was first published.

I’ve already introduced the new TV Buyer’s Guide, from LG in partnership T3 and What Plasma & LCD TV, time now for the real-world half of the package – the LG Xperience roadshow:

The LG Xperience is a 20 ft road show trailer full of the latest LG TVs and staffed by experts to take you through their features, will be on a nationwide tour from June 5th, helping both consumers and retail staff get better acquainted with LG’s latest TV ranges and some of the features and technologies newly emerging on the TV marketing.

The aim is to help demystify the terminology associated with the TV industry, as well as concepts such as the Digital Switchover and Freesat.

The Xperience will make its first appearance at Lord’s from 5-18th June – for the duration of the Twenty20 World Cup – before a tour around Digital Switchover regions, starting with the West Country from 23rd June. Some of the biggest TV stockists such as Argos, Currys and Comet will also be participating.

We will keep you posted as we get more details of venues throughout the country.

Today LG launches an interactive TV Buyer’s Guide, it has been developed in conjunction with T3 and What Plasma & LCD TV to help support LG’s ‘Xperience‘ educational tour – more on that later!

The Buyer’s Guide microsite uses video and interactive content to help you to choose a TV that is suited to your individual needs – consideration is given to the customers’ distance from the TV, their viewing habits, type of viewing platform used in the home, lighting conditions, and the room in which it is positioned.

George Mead, Marketing Manager Digital Display for LG Electronics, said

Consumer choice has never been greater and it’s key for us to help support consumers and retailers by providing the right tools to simplify common misconceptions around tech terminology. Ultimately, we want to help consumers make the right choice to enhance their home entertainment experience.

When asked about the partnership Luke Bilton of Future 360 said:

We are delighted to be partnering with LG to make the technology buying process easier for consumers to navigate. T3 and What Plasma & LCD TV are committed to helping readers uncover the very best in consumer electronics, with a proud tradition of impartial, unbiased opinion. The LG Online Buyer’s Guide makes finding the right TV for you simple and intuitive.

What Hifi have just published a review of the LG 32LH7000 which will feature in its June issue.

They’ve given it a full Five stars, citing the following selling points:

Decent styling; intuitive interface; complete, full HD specification; strong tuner; colourful, clean video images; clear sound [...] Striking looks, technically adept [...] Vivid colours and sharp edges

We’re – understandably – fairly chuffed with the glowing write up and I’m spoilt for choice with good quotes, but rather and copy it all into here, why don’t you have a look at their review in full. Here.

Do you want to watch films in 3D? Or perhaps own a TV that’s capable of thinking for you? If so, LGenius is the place to let your imagination fly. Any idea you have related to TV, LGenius wants to hear from you.

Within LGenius you can submit your ideas, join the forum to share thoughts and post comments. You could even win a brand new 37″ LF7700 Freesat HD TV if you impress the experts and have your ideas brought to life by LG’s leading Research and Development teams.

Be sure to check out the Ideas Alive section to view the ones that are already in development for both the Plasma and LCV TV ranges – soon your idea may be there!

In short LGenius is the perfect platform for everyone who has ever thought ‘I wish my TV could…’

Watch a short glance into the future or directly into LGenius!

One of LG’s 2009 TV ranges is the PQ6000 series, which got it’s first review from Cnet’s Crave earlier this week. I’m happy to report they have given it the thumbs up!

We have to say, this is a very pretty-looking screen. We love the one-piece glass design, which gives it a very modern look. We also love how slim the TV is, making it great for popping away in a little corner or even wall-mounting it. LG says the joy of this TV is that everything is hidden away. And indeed, TV controls are tucked away at the side, and the sound seems to come from nowhere. It’s all very clever, and icy cool too.

For saving the environment and your wallet, the LG comes with an Eco mode, which should reduce its power consumption to ultra-low levels. Engaging this mode does reduce the brightness somewhat, so you might consider using it when the lights are off at movie time. Happily, to save you having to trawl through menus, the TV can also detect the ambient light levels and auto-adjust itself.

Here are some key specs:

Picture:
• HD Ready
• Dual XD Engine
• Resolution: 1024 x 768
• Dynamic Contrast Ratio: 2,000,000:1
• Brightness: 1,500cd/m2
• Intelligent Sensor II
• 24p Real Cinema
• AV Mode (Cinema, Sport, Game)
• Expert Mode

Sound:
• Invisible Speakers
• Clear Voice II
• 2 Way 4 Speakers (10W x 10W)
• SRS TruSurround XT

Connectivity:
• 3 x HDMI
• USB 2.0 (JPEG / MP3 / DivX SD)
• 2 x Scart (1 x Full)
• Component
• PC Input
• Composite
• S-Video

You can find the full specifications here.