LG Adds Wireless Features to New LCD TVs

LG Electronics is adding wireless capabilities to its upcoming TVs and also moving to bring users bring more high-definition entertainment options.

New LG LCD TVs will accept uncompressed wireless transmission of 1080p high-definition content from set-top boxes, said Woo Paik, the chief technology officer and president of LG Electronics during a press conference ahead of the official opening of the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

Two new models will have the wireless feature: the LHX Slim Wireless LED Backlight HDTV, which will be available in 55 inches (139.7 centimeters), and the LH85 LCD HDTV, which will come in sizes of 47 inches to 55 inches.

LG did not immediately disclose availability or pricing of the TV sets.

The company is also adding Ethernet connectivity to some models of LCD and plasma TV sets to bring entertainment from the Internet. The feature, called NetCast, will be added to the LH50 LCD HDTV, which will come in sizes of 47 inches and 42 inches, and the PS80 plasma HDTV, which will come in sizes of 60 inches and 50 inches. Users will be able to play videos from movie rental service Netflix and Youtube on the TV sets.

LG also announced it has struck a deal with Yahoo to run Yahoo Widgets on NetCast TVs. Widgets are mini-applications that complement TV viewing with information from the Internet. With widgets, users can view weather information on TV or buy products advertised on TV from online stores.

LG announced last week that it will release Blu-ray players that can stream movies online from CinemaNow and pull content from YouTube. The new Internet-connected Blu-ray Disc players that will play movies downloaded from the Internet include the BD370 and BD390 models.

The company also said it is getting ready for 3D TV, developing a 3D chipset that it hopes to incorporate in future TVs, Paik said.