Even though 16:9 displays have become quite mainstream in 2009, support for this aspect ratio in the consumer market is only a few years old. Everyone loves watching widescreen movies – still, for some people, 16:9 still isn’t wide enough.
Philips will soon be launching a new television set supporting an aspect ratio of 21:9 – the same aspect ratio as you’d find in Panavision film. The new “Cinema 21:9 LCD TV” will have a diagonal of 56 inches and will feature the Ambilight technology, for that extra degree of immersion.
The tradeoff, of course, is that (if my trigonometry is right) is that HD programs will have an effective viewing area of 45″ and SD programs, an effective viewing area or 36″, though Philips says it will somehow make 16:9 HD programs fill the screen.
According to Philips, further details on the Cinema 21:9 LCD TV will be available by the end of February. They have also confirmed that the display is set for release sometime in Spring 2009.