Let the (OLED TV) battle commence

LG has launched a 55in (140cm) OLED TV – so the battle begins for the next-generation of high-quality screens.

OLED which means organic light-emitting diode is more energy efficient than LCD (liquid crystal display) and plasma-based alternatives.

LG's model will go on sale in South Korea first with other markets, including Europe, to follow later this year.

LG and Samsung announced they would be producing OLEDs last year, but its LG that is first to the shops.

OLED screens were first showcased at last January's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, but until now neither company had managed to get a product to market.

The 1080p (1920 x 1080 pixels) OLED television will sell for 11 million won (€7,800). Analysts said the technology was unlikely to become more affordable until at least 2015 - but that this latest release was more about cementing LG's position as a market leader.

OLED screens have been touted as the successor to the popular liquid crystal displays (LCD).

The technology allows for the display of darker and deeper blacks, and can be made thinner than competing display methods.

Smaller OLED screens are already part of our everyday lives. Samsung uses the technology in its smartphones, and Sony's PlayStation Vita handheld console also utilises the thin, light technology.

The prediction of many is OLED screens will allow for the development of a new generation of "bendy" gadgets, some of which we may even see this year.

 So what is 4K and do I need it?

Another technology, known as 4K, has also been given a lot of attention from manufacturers.

Dubbed "Ultra HD", 4K offers 8 million pixels per frame - four times the resolution of 1080p high-definition displays - making it particularly well suited for extra large screens. 110in (279cm) models.

Existing 4K TV sets are LCD-based. But according to some purists, OLED offers a richer quality display so might be the better option for 55in screens.

The CES show in Las Vegas will start shortly and this is where a lot of the big boys set out their stool for the year. Unfortunately Future Lifestyle are not attending this year (dam and blast!!....). But we will be bringing you the best bits and the things that we believe will make it into our lives in the coming years.

Sony Show us the future

Just when you thought you were ready for 3D TV Sony has given the world a glimpse at one possible evolution in display technology – the 360 degree Holographic Auto-stereoscopic Viewer. This small cylindrical unit can display a static image that can be viewed as if it was hanging in three dimensional space. It's a startling piece of research and development that hints at all kinds of futuristic applications.

Don´t panic you will not have to rush out and replace that large flatscreen TV just yet. This is only the first generation prototype and displays only static pictures. The images are a little rough around the edges and pixelated, but in full colour, which makes up for it a bit.

When viewed with one eye shut, these appear two dimensional, but with both eyes open they gained substance and depth. And yes, you can walk entirely around the image; it appears to be fully three dimensional. I could even look down into the content, or peer upwards, and the illusion remained intact.

So where will this new technology be used is anyone’s guess, a larger, fully animated Viewer could be employed as a virtual salesperson in a shop, or find a role as an entirely new type of holographic communications device. Where ever the development leads, we can´t help but feel that this is going to become common place in the future....