LG boosts HDTV refresh rate to 240 Hz

LG Wednesday unveiled its newest lineup of HDTVs at CES, many of which include features designed to improve the clarity of fast-moving scenes and and stream online video straight to your TV.

LG's 12 new TVs come in both plasma and LCD varieties in sizes up to 60 inches.

HDTVs with faster refresh rates of at least 120 Hz are now standard across the nine LCD sets unveiled. The 120 Hz refresh rates have become increasingly more common in the past year, but LG moves beyond this level with its 55-inch LHX and 42-, 47-, and 55-inch LH90 models. These new sets feature refresh rates of 240 Hz, which should help make motion sequences smoother with less motion blur and jitter.

The ultra-thin (less than 1-inch thick) LHX also has LED backlighting, which is more efficient, but it allows the TVs' backlight to dim in areas to provide deeper blacks.

LG also took the wraps off its LH50 LCD HDTV. Following the growing trend of so-called connected TVs--TVs that can connect to the Internet--the LH60 features an ethernet port as part of a package LG calls NetCast. In addition to pushing information feeds (news, weather, and so on--LG uses Yahoo's Widget Engine), as well as streaming music and photos from your PC to your TV as some connected TVs currently do, the LH50's NetCast feature can also play back movies using Netflix's Instant Streaming service and stream videos from YouTube.

LG's three new plasma sets now feature faster refresh rates of up to 600 Hz, and two models (the PS50 and PS60 series) also feature THX Display Certification. LG's 50-inch PS80 Plasma HDTV features the NetCast feature set and THX Display Certification. Also included is THX Media Director, a feature LG says is designed to improve playback and simplify using your TV. The THX Media Director allows digital mediato communicate picture and sound settings directly to other compatible consumer electronics devices.