Philips Cinema 21:9 LCD HDTV

Widescreen HDTV is going to get a little wider from Philips this year. The Cinema 21:9 is an upcoming 56-inch LCD HDTV that’ll use the 21:9 (2.33:1 for those who don't work at Philips) aspect ratio of a movie theater. The set will also feature Philips Ambilight background lighting feature.

The new ultra-wide screen reminds me a bit of razor blade manufacturers that try to one-up each other by adding one more blade than the competition for an even closer shave. Or is it more like the the 7-minute Abs Workout video that becomes obsolete the day the 6-minute Abs video is released?

You thought you had a wide-screen HDTV?

The popular 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio is the new standard that’s been adopted by television. But few movies are exactly 16:9. Sure, 16:9 is a sufficient happy medium with minimal correction from those black-bars everyone hates.

But now that Philips has released an even wider screen you’ll see vertical bars on the sides of your set every time you watch network television. Or you’ll be treated to distortion in the picture due to aspect ratio correction as images are stretched into the shape of your screen.

There is always the outside chance that the format will catch on and you’ll get a lot more commercial content in the new aspect ratio... perhaps in about 10 years.

There are no tech-specs available yet on the new set, except that it’ll measure 56-inches diagonally. More info should arrive in late February. Philips Cinema 16:9 will be released in spring of 2009.