Laser TV

New pics have surface via Mitsubishi Japan’s website, and rumor has it that “super wide angular optical engines” have been developed to slim down the housing for the optical components. The prototype Laser TV displayed at the 2008 CES was approximately 10 inches thick, but reports are indicating the commercial model may be significantly thinner.

Within the past year, three major companies have announced plans to stop manufacturing rear-projection TVs (RPTVs). The most notable of the group is Sony, which has already halted production and is in the process of clearing its inventory. Still, for the month of January, Sony reported a 31.50% shelf-share, slightly ahead of Samsung at 30.07%. Phillips and Toshiba have also announced plans to drop RPTV, and Toshiba’s 3.30% shelf-share for January fell 2.50% from the previous month. Rounding out the list is Mitsubishi in third place at 15.29% and RCA with 13.80% share.

Source: The NPD Group.

With the departure of Sony from the RPTV market, Samsung and Mitsubishi are the clear front runners to fill the Sony void, and not coincidentally, both companies are invested in laser technology. Mitsubishi plans to release its Laser TV this fall, while Samsung has admitted “we are studying laser technology but still it is far from commercialization.”

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