We've already seen the Crystallized Loewe Individual and the ultra-bling Philips Diamond TV, and now it's LG's turn to join forces with the Swarovski empire with its Canvas Crystal X HDTV. A pretty clever one, too, which weds last year's Design Art-series chassis with 1,000 of the glittery crystals. It would have been even better if the company had extended this special treatment to its Scarlet lineup, though we have had equal reservations on the level of unnecessary extravagance.

Whatever it is, this 47-incher is already out in South Korea and costs a dear $3,194 each, according to Register Hardware, not to mention shipping and the issue of power supply variation between countries. We doubt it will be launched outside that market anytime soon, but if you are bent on importing one, remember to hard-sell the panel's juicy full-HD resolution and ultra-high 50,000:1 dynamic contrast to your significant other.

Targeted at the red hot sub-26 inch LCD TV category for 'second TV' and high-density urban markets, the VM2211 is equipped with advanced picture enhancement technologies, effortless connectivity, and higher resolution than comparable compact HDTVs for PC display capability.

A world-renowned provider of performance displays, BenQ has focused its visual technology expertise into the VM2211 to provide a better HDTV experience. Its digital noise reduction and onboard de-interlacing reduce image artifacts and impurity to produce stunning HDTV color and picture quality. Simple connectivity is provided by component, composite A/V, S-Video and HDMI inputs for a variety of PC, HDTV, Blu-Ray sources and gaming consoles.

'The equations in the LCD TV segment are changing steadily as players push the limits of technology and look for features. No doubt the appetite for LCD TVs has been elevated from a mere consumer electronic gadget to a sophisticated entertainment unit,' said Manish Bakshi, General Manager, Middle East and Africa.

Somewhat at the opposite end of the size-scale from Telson’s UMPC prototype, Philips have developed their own glasses-free 3D display. Using a whopping 52-inch LCD panel, the screen can display full 1920 x 1080 high-definition, has a 2,000:1 contrast ratio and 8ms response time. More importantly, it combines that with Philips 3D Solutions’ WOWvx technology, described as a “2D-plus-Depth” format, which adds additional occlusion information into the picture to give the impression of being able to “look around” what’s on-screen.

WOWvx relies on footage being coded with depth information that indicates the position of each 2D image pixel. That information is translated into nine different views and rendered in real-time by the display hardware. A microlens layer in front of the LCD panel spatially disperses these nine different views, giving a sense of depth to the high-definition picture. Because it only requires enough data to construct a relatively basic depth profile, the bandwidth requirements for “2D-plus-Depth” are close to plain 2D video.

Westinghouse continues their habit of releasing well-spec'd but average-performing displays today with a slew of new LCD HDTVs. On the 1080p front, the TX Series comes in 42, 47, and 52-inch flavors along with the 40-inch VK-40F580D -- a 1080P DVD combo player that's (aside from the $1,099 price) ironically missing Blu-ray. The less-expensive 720p LCDs in the SK, PT, and W series come in anything from 16 to 32-inch screen sizes, the PT series being portable. So what's the big deal? The 1080p TX-52F480S 52-inch display retails at only $1,999 US, a tough number to beat in that spec range. Meanwhile, their respectably-sized 26-inch SK-26H730S is priced at just $599. So, hooray for affordable HDTV, and stuff.

Anyone looking to defy the onset of a recession and use their tax rebate to snap up an HDTV may want to check into the cost of running one of these big, bad boys before they write a check. While most manufacturers bombard you with HDTV resolution stats and dimensions, very few like to disclose just how much juice these units use, or how much 'green' it is going to cost you each month. With the digital switch-over looming in February 2009, I recently looked into the myriad of options out there and discovered a relatively inexpensive and viable option—DLP.

Digital Light Projection, in my opinion, is the way to go if you want a great picture without having to break the bank to get one. Prices have come down dramatically in the last year, or so and with DLP you can still keep your energy bills down below your post sub-prime mortgage payment.

Now that HD DVD has bitten the hi-def bullet, you would think that consumers would flock to Blu-ray, well not according to a survey by NPD.

The survey, which took place in March this year, reveals that just 9 per cent of American households – and there are currently 40 million of them – that own HDTVs are looking to invest in a Blu-ray player.

This number drops when it takes into account non-HDTV punters. Just 6 per cent of those questioned said they were thinking of buying a Blu-ray player in the next six months.

Canon today introduced a pair of digital multimedia projectors that includes a new flagship model with WUXGA resolution--1920x1200--a spec that exceeds HDTV. Designed for widescreen format, the Canon Realis WUX10 is said to deliver the highest resolution of any Canon projector. Another model, the Realis SX80 is also a high-res model (1400x1050) that Canon says is the world's first multimedia projector to offer PictBridge connectivity. But those spec-busting feature come at a price: the WUX10 is expected carry a suggested list price of $12,999. The SX80 will list for $3,999.

If you're in the market for a new High Definition TV, you may be tempted to go with a brand you've never heard of. After all, the picture is great, and many off-brands cost hundreds of dollars less.

Experts warn, however, buyer beware. You may be getting what you pay for, especially after the warranty expires.

Many off-brand HDTV's have earned the nickname, "disposable HDTVs" from industry experts. That's because they offer little or no service support once the warranty expires.

Just ask Melissa Steinkamp. Steinkamp purchased a Tru-Tech HDTV at Target a little more than a year ago. Just a month after the warranty expired, Steinkamp found herself staring at a dark screen.

Not every room or budget can accommodate a mega-sized flat-panel HDTV. For folks with smaller spaces and wallets, there's the Westinghouse PT-16H610S ($349 list). A compact 16-inch widescreen LCD TV, it can easily sit on a table, hang on a wall, or be mounted under a cabinet. Flexible placement options, however, are tempered by a weak video processor, which leaves standard-definition (SD) material rife with jagged-edge and flicker artifacts. A limited selection of video ports also limits this TV's usefulness.

The HD Guru has had a long career in the consumer electronics business, including 30 years as VP for a chain of consumer electronics stores. The good news for you is that he's willing to share some of the knowledge he's picked up over the years, and his latest blog includes some sage advice on scoring the lowest price when buying a new HDTV.

The HD Guru recommends basically a four-step method:
1) Research TVs online (of course, we recommend CNET's HDTV reviews).
2) Go to a major retailer like Best Buy or Circuit City and look at your choices in person.
3) Go back online and find the absolute lowest price on your favorite HDTV.
4) Find a commission-based electronics store, and ask them to beat that price.