Digital Home Thoughts: Sumitomo to Launch 40' OLED TV

"Sumitomo Chemical Co. <4005> said Friday that in 2009, it plans to launch the production and sales of large-screen organic electroluminescence display panels for use in televisions of 40 inches or larger. President Hiromasa Yonekura said his company is considering forming alliances for the development of such organic panels. EL panels are thinner than liquid display panels and consume less power. Sumitomo Chemical is developing so-called macromolecule-type organic EL panels. Because these can be produced through an ink-jet printing process, it is possible to lower production costs and make large displays, a company spokesman said."

The photograph above is of the Samsung OLED TV just to give you an idea of scale. Large format OLED TVs, if this story were to be believed, will be available in 2009. No word on pricing yet. Though I seriously wonder about the picture quality to price to length of life ratio between OLED, plasma and LCD TVs. Of course, regarding the first variable there, I hope someone does a real "blind taste-test" between the three to give an objective analysis on the pros and cons.