CES 2010

In addition to many TVs, LG also introduced two new Blu-ray players, the BD370 and BD390 (pictured here). Both are BD-Live ready (the BD390 has 1GB of internal memory), and both can stream content from Netflix, CinemaNow, and YouTube via Ethernet as well as access content on networked DLNA servers. The BD390 can also stream via WiFi, and it has 7.1 analog outputs.

As in years past, LG had the distinction of holding the first press conference of CES—at 8:00 AM! Many new products were announced, including nine new lines of LCD TVs and three new lines of plasmas with a total of 30 new models in all. Among the LCDs is the 55LH90 pictured here, which uses LED backlighting to achieve a claimed contrast ratio of 2,000,000:1 as well as a 240Hz feature that combines 120Hz frame interpolation and backlight flashing. Other notable technologies include wireless HD built into the LH85 and LHX series LCDs that can convey uncompressed 1080p/60 at a maximum date rate of 3Gbps.

At 72", this LG LCD-LED set was the largest 3D LCD set we saw at the show.

The Consumer Electronics Show may not start until Thursday (Wednesday for us press folks), but LG has decided to get a head start on product announcements. In a move clearly designed to complement its Netflix-streaming <A href="http://www.ultimateavmag.com/hddiscplayers/lg_bd300_network_blu-ray_play... Blu-ray player</A>, LG announced today a new line of LCD and plasma TVs with broadband connections and embedded software that will allow them to display streaming Netflix content directly. Currently, there are 12,000 titles to choose from, 300 in high definition&#151;clearly an underwhelming number, but one that is certainly going to increase as quickly as Netflix can encode them.

Like other manufacturers at the show, LG was showing off the claimed better blacks of its new sets. TruBlack is the company's designation for the upgraded black levels in its new plasma sets, like the 2010 PK950 shown here. While it wasn't easy to see the improvement on the brightly lit show floor, the new set did look subtly better.

Build a new mousetrap, and the world will beat a path to your door. Build a new mouse (the computer-type, that is), and the world will put their hands all over it. That's just what Jelfin wants to have happen with the company's new ball-shaped mouse that comes with a gel cover. In addition to being washable (keep your stinking H1N1 germs to yourself, thank you), the gel covering - and the ball-shape - make the mouse very comfortable to hold in your hand.