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	Philips' upcoming Ambilight LCD TVs.

In a smart move, Philips is shifting away from plasma and focusing almost exclusively on LCD TVs in 2007. The notable exception is its moderately priced (US$3,500) 63-inch plasma TV, which has more potential than the company's earlier 42- and 50-inch plasma TVs that had to go head-to-head against Panasonic's highly regarded models.

LED is now the light behind Ambilight.

According to Philips, its new Ambilight LCD FlatTVs range in size from 32- to 52-inches (32PFL7332, 42PFL7432D, 42PFL9832D, 47PFL9732D, 47PFL7432D and 52PFL7432D). The 42-, 47-, and 52-inch models now boast 1080p resolution, Perfect Pixel HD Engine to maximize 1080p content for the best picture, Pixel Plus 3 HD, Digital Natural Motion and ClearLCD, the peak of high-definition (HD) for today's demanding consumer.

Probably the biggest news is that Philips is now using LED to power its Ambilight technology. The company says that "the LED generates more saturated colors, allows for a more compact set design, and consumes less power than prior models".

Here's a look at the full lineup:

Philips' upcoming Ambilight LCD TVs.

Credit: David Carnoy, CNET.com

Philips aggressively prices upcoming 1080p 63-inch plasma TV

	Philips 63PFP7422D.

Vizio is making news at CES 2007 with a US$3,000 60-inch plasma TV, but Philips has a big-screen plasma model of its own that it's going to price very aggressively at US$3,500 (MSRP) when it arrives in US stores in June. At 63 inches, the Philips 63PFP7422D is actually bigger and features 1080p resolution, USB connectivity for displaying digital photo slideshows and MP3 playback, and a motorized swiveling stand. That US$3,500 is a suggested retail price, so we expect the real price to be even lower, possibly closer to US$3,000. Of course, the Vizio will probably be nearer to US$2,500 when it's released, but still, with prices for large-screen plasmas coming down quickly, the demise of the rear-projection TV seems more inevitable.

It's worth mentioning that with this set, Philips is also touting a new picture settings setup wizard that seems pretty promising. You'll be guided through six preferences, including contrast, sharpness and color saturation. We've been asking for this sort of wizard in sets for a while, so we're eager to see if it's a gimmick or a simple way for people to calibrate their sets right out-of-the-box, without any help from pricey calibrators.

Credit: David Carnoy, CNET.com

Philips plasma with 2,200 diamonds

	The diamond Ambilight TV.

Finally, a TV that even Zsa Zsa Gabor would like.

To celebrate shipping 1 million of its Ambilight TVs, Philips took the millionth one of the line and inserted 2,200 diamonds from the DeBeers Company into the bezel. Ambilight, which adjusts the TV light level to suit the room, has been one of the more successful technologies in consumer electronics in the past few years for the Dutch giant.

The diamonds are swirled in the white part of the bezel. Plasma TVs of this size weigh about 136kg, and the Philips booth is located deep in the central hall of the convention center, so thievery is probably out. But the aged security guard was a nice touch anyway.

	Plasma encased in glass.

Philips is also showing off a plasma encased in a sheet of glass and neither TV is for sale.

Philips in some ways is the odd company out here at CES. Most of the other big booth holders come from China, Japan or South Korea. Philips is the largest European. But they serve better coffee than most of the other booths.

Credit: Michael Kanellos, CNET.com

« Samsung DLPs: More diodes, less depth | Updated Toshiba Regza LCD TVs on the way »

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