“A TV designed by women, for women.”
While that isn’t exactly what Philips said at their CES press conference
today, it might as well have been.
it has “feminine lines” and is designed to appeal to women, who play a large
role in CE purchasing decisions.
The new form factor is from Philips’ design
collection and it’s meant to stand out in a “sea of sameness” on the retail
sales floor.
Believe me, there’s absolutely no worry that this set won’t stand out. It’s a
clear departure from traditional HDTVs which, these days, come in high-gloss
black from nearly every manufacturer in the known world. Visually, the set resembles
the world’s largest Mac, and only needs a wireless keyboard, side-loading
DVD-Rom drive and Leopard OS to complete the illusion.
The Aurea set features a translucent bezel that uses the
latest version of Philips’ Ambilight technology that illuminates different
colors in response to what’s displayed onscreen. Technology-wise, the sets are
packed with the latest must-have features such as 1080p and 120-hertz refresh
rates.
Other than the TV being less than macho looking, my worry is that the whitish
bezel will affect perceived contrast. Only time — and a full review (hint,
hint) — will tell.
—John Sciacca
