Sony XEL-1 OLED TVSony XEL-1: The world's first OLED TVIn October 2007, Sony amazed the world when they announced the XEL-1 TV, the world's first OLED TV. OLED is a new display technology: those screens are thin, efficient and bright. 
The XEL-1 is a small TV (11"), and very expensive (around 2,500$). Sony actually regards it as a prototype - but one that can be bought. They only make around a thousand XEL-1 sets a month. Sony is very keen to be seen as an innovator again, and are betting on OLEDs as the technology that will one day replace LCD or Plasma (PDP) TVs. 
The XEL-1 is just 3mm thin, and has 960x540 resolution. It has an amazing 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio (much better than Plasma or LCD Televisions), a terrestrial digital tuner, speakers, HDMI, USB and Ethernet jacks. It weights 2kg. XEL-1 reviewsMost people that see the XEL-1 are amazed by the picture quality and the great contrast. Obviously the small size is disappointing, but we have to remember that it's just the first OLED TV, and larger ones will follow soon. Displaysearch claims that the XEL-1 lifetime is only 17,000 hours (till the display is half as bright as a new one) - while Sony claims the real lifetime is 30,000. 
Where can I buy an XEL-1?The XEL-1 can now be bought in the US, and the EU. Amazon is now selling it, too. Sony originally said that the first batches were sold quickly, and that they are 'encouraged' by the sales. In February 2010 they announced that they will cease production and marketing of the XEL-1 in Japan. Future Sony OLED TVsObviously the XEL-1 is just the first OLED TV. Sony promises to begin selling a 27" OLED TVs soon, or maybe a 21" model (this might be named the XEL-2, or according to some rumors, the KDL-ZX), followed by even larger 40" TVs. The main question is the price - will it drop fast enough to actually compete with LCD or Plasma TVs? 
Latest stories about Sony's XEL-1 OLED TV:Sony stops producing/selling the XEL-1 in Japan02/16/2010Sony says that they have stopped production of the XEL-1 OLED TV in Japan, and will stop selling it when they run out of inventory. They will continue to sell and produce the OLED TV for the US, EU and other markets though (which is a bit confusing, because they say they stopped producing it). Sony will also continue their OLED R&D. Still no news on any upcoming larger OLED TVs... Sony XEL-1 OLED TV
Via Reuters Smart home trials in Australia to include OLED TVs02/08/2010Here's a nice offer: you can get a fully paid-for house in Sydney if you volunteer to experience an eco-friendly smart home. This smart home includes solar panels, a fuel-cell, an electric car, and an OLED TV (probably Sony's XEL-1). One lucky family (it's gotta be a family with kids) will get this house for about a year, during which they'll try out the different technologies and blog about it, of course. The aim is to save between 20% to 50% of the energy required for such a house using the new technologies. More info here, but hurry up - registration closes on February 22nd... Sony XEL-1 TVs in Amsterdam ArenA photo01/31/2010Sony has installed 20 XEL-1 OLED TVs in the press gallery of the Amsterdam ArenA stadium. It seems that the responses has been great, and people are very impressed with the performance of the OLED TV displays. . 
Via HDTV Nieuws Intel shows an Atom-based home-automation concept with an 11" OLED display01/11/2010Intel is showing a new home-automation system concept, that is based on their Atom processor, and has a large (11") touch OLED display. The whole system is designed to be efficient, hence the Atom processor and OLED display. Intel's site is not consistent about the display size, in one place they say it's 11.25", and in another 11.56". In any case we're not sure who's making the actual OLED but it's probably based on a Sony panel as used in the XEL-1 OLED TV. 
In any case, the concept is very nice, and looks great. It uses Zigbee wireless connection to connect to appliances around the home and provide "intelligent home energy management". Each appliance needs to be connected to a low-cost Zigbee transmitted socket in order for this to work. The OLED-based display provides a central control panel with information such as temperature, utility cost, personal messages, home security, a clock, weather, internet access, etc. More information over at Intel's site. LG announces a 2.6mm thick LED LCD TV12/22/2009LG has announced a new LED LCD TV, that's only 2.6mm thick. That's even thinner than Sony's XEL-1 OLED TV! The new TV is 42", weights only 4Kg (!) and has a 120Hz refresh rate. A few years ago, one of the advantages of OLEDs were being thin and light, but LCD has advanced very quickly in that respect - although OLEDs can be made much thinner, it doesn't seem to really matter any more, at least for TVs. Unless of course they'll start making rollable, flexible OLED TVs...  LG 2.6mm thick LED LCD
Via Gizmodo |
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