Apple on Thursday discontinued its 20-inch Cinema Display, reducing its external display offerings to just two options: the brand new 24-inch Apple LED Cinema model and the old 30-inch Apple Cinema HD display. The 20-inch has already been removed from Apple's online store. AppleInsider also suggests that the 30-inch Apple displays are next to go away.

With immediate effect, the following products are 'End of Life' (EOL); Apple 20" Cinema Display,

All backlog will be cancelled and there is no automatic order conversion.

Apple wrote in a worldwide bulletin to its sales and service channels.

I doubt someone expected this to happen so quickly, but Samsung's recently covered 23-inch 2342BWX high-resolution LCD display won't be the only one on the market for long, because Dell is also getting ready to ship the brand new SP2309 soon. Just like the Samsung, Dell's upcoming LCD will boast the remarkable 2048x1152 QWXGA resolution on a 23-inch 16:9 viewable display size. The remaining specs include dynamic contrast ratio of 1000:1, 300 cd/m² brightness, 98% color gamut, 2ms response time, 2-megapixel camera with microphone and VGA/DVI and HDMI inputs. The Dell SP2309 should start selling later this month. It's price is estimated at around $419.99.

Dell has silently launched one more slave up its LCD monitor line-up, the 23-inch Dell S2309W. Base specs of this 23-incher reveal a 1920x1080 wide resolution, making it Dell's second 16:9 full HD display after S2409W. Response time is measured to be 5ms, brightness is 300 cd/m2, and contrast ratio is 1,000:1. The S2309W connects to the PC via DVI or analog VGA. It follows the new trend by matching the resolution found on modern TVs, so you may think this would be the perfect choice for movie lovers, if it did not lack HDMI connectivity for some reason. The display is currently only on Dell's Canadian site here. There is no information on pricing and availability yet.

In the quest to replace LED technology, Sony recently dropped ¥22 billion (£105 million/€140 million/$205 million) on OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) panel production. The large sum of cash will be spent upon "middle and large size OLED panel production technology", and plans on having something operational by April 2009. Most of the research and production will be done at Sony Mobile Display Corporation's factory in Japan. Once Sony does have an operational product, and a lot of them, they will hopefully implant them in just about everything involving a screen coming out of Sony's factory doors. OLED technology is, at this point, known for being extremely thin and obscenely expensive. If all goes well, Sony will negate the latter.

Microsoft and Mitsubishi are taking handheld PC's to the next level. LucidTouch, as the technology is called, allows users to control the touch screen PC with both hands, while previous touch-screens required some form of support (usually a hand) to hold the touch-screen up. LucidTouch technology poses a rather interesting question: Where is the PC part of the touch-screen PC going? Any manufacturer using LucidTouch will have to take low-profile to a new level, and somehow cram all the important hardware to the sides of the screen.

ASUS has launched the latest offering in the LCD market - the ASUS PG221 LCD monitor. The ASUS PG221 is a 22-inch widescreen which incorporates a stylish and innovative industrial design with integrated audio speakers, rich video inputs and USB 2.0 support that turn the PG221 into an ideal multimedia display center. The 22-inch 16:10 widescreen LCD monitor features 1680x1050 WSXGA+ resolution, 320 nits brightness, 2000:1 dynamic contrast ratio thanks to the ASCR (ASUS Smart Contrast Ratio) Technology and 2ms response time. The PG221 has built-in 1.3MP web-cam and 2.1 channel stereo speakers that include 10W satellite speakers and a military-styled 15W subwoofer tank-box at the rear. The ASUS PG221 is also able to support a 6.1-CH surround sound system with SRS TruSurround XT Technology. For further information, read the product page here.

Dell has updated its 24-inch 2407WFP widescreen monitor with the introduction of the 2407WFP-HC LCD model. The new 2407WFP-HC features Dell's TrueColor technology, 1920x1200 (WUXGA) resolution, 6ms response time, 1000:1 contrast ratio, 400 cd/m2 image brightness, 178°/178° viewing angle and a new W-CCFL (wide cold-cathode florescent lighting) backlight. Although, the specs and features appear to remain unchanged the updated 2407WFP-HC LCD panel now covers 92% of the NTSC color gamut, just like the 3007WFP-HC big brother. Orders of the new Dell 2407WFP-HC start tommorow in Japan with a MSRP of ¥108,000 or around USD $875.

Sony is the first company to show off 24-bit color flexible OLED. It features a contrast ratio of "above" 1000:1, is 2.5-inch large with a resolution of 160 x 120 pixels. It can easily be bent, as it is just 0.3 mm thick. Just do not expect this technology to hit retail any time soon.

LG.Philips LCD [NYSE: LPL, KRX: 034220], a leading innovator of thin-film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) technology, announced today that it developed the world's first 14.1-inch flexible color E-paper display, equivalent in size to an A4 sheet of paper. This is a second breakthrough in E-paper for LG.Philips LCD, which introduced the world's first 14.1-inch black and white flexible E-paper display in May 2006.

With Toshiba developing the world's largest OLED display, Sony has now revealed that it is set to begin production of its first OLED TV later this year. At just 11" and 1024 x 600 pixels, the screen size and resolution don't seem too impressive, but this screen will have 8-bits of colour per channel as well as a amazing 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio - not mentioning that it's only 3mm thick. Obviously this means it won't be the ultimate home cinema screen, but it still looks promising for future OLED products once the technology moves forwards. Pricing and availability are still unclear, but this should hit the shelves sometime in 2007.

Samsung Electronics today announced it will begin producing a 24-inch LCD panel with an LED backlight. The LED-backlit monitor panel has an color saturation level of 111% (of NTSC standard), compared to a saturation level of only 72% of NTSC for conventional monitors and will satisfy consumers used to the crisp colors prevalent in high-definition (HD) broadcasting, according to Samsung. The new monitor display also features Samsung's S-PVA (Super Patterned-ITO Vertical Alignment) technology that provides the widest viewing angle possible -180 degrees - at high contrast ratio over 1000:1. It also supports 1920x1200 WUXGA resolution, which is the computer equivalent to full HD resolution.

Toshiba Matsushita Display (TMD) has developed the world's largest 20.8-inch low-temperature poly-silicon (LTPS) organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display panel to advance to the next-generation of flat-screen TV sets and monitors. The new 20.8-inch OLED display has been developed based on LTPS technology, which TMD has been continually refining, and an electroluminescent coating process, which is advantageous for larger display screen sizes. The three (RGB) color-emitting layers use polymer organic electroluminescent materials, and an ink-jet type coating process is adopted for coating of each color. These have contributed to achieving a large screen size of 20.8-inch and would enable the expansion of potential applications of large-size OLED panels, which have been conventionally limited to smaller size screens. The newly developed panel will be exhibited in TMD's booth at the 3rd International FPD Expo (Display 2007) at Tokyo Big Sight from April 11 through April 13, 2007.

A new technology called Laser TV could soon be in stores competing against plasma and LCD televisions if California based company Novalux has its way with things. The new laser TVs is designed to be used for either front/rear projection and because it can be used in current rear-projection cabinets it should be cheaper to produce. Not only will it cost less than LCD and plasma, it also boasts double the colour range and uses three-quarters less power, which should attract those who are after the best image quality available. However, the downside of laser technology remains in the design of rear-projection TVs: because of the way they work, they have a much deeper profile than LCD or Plasma TVs, so they are not ideal for hanging on walls. Sony's prototype laser TV (shown below on the left) is estimated to have a depth of between 8" and 10", whilst even large LCD displays are under 5". Novalux already has four designs ready and is in discussions with numerous OEMs, with the company hoping to see the technology go on sale in 2008.

BenQ today introduced two additions to its 19-inch LCD monitor lineup - the BenQ FP93GW/FP93GWa. Both monitors feature a 16:10 wide screen, a super slim 12mm side bezel design, an ultra-fast 5ms response time and BenQ's exclusive Senseye+photo technology. The Senseye+photo technology transmits colors through the sRGB color gamut, providing consistent and accurate color reproduction whether on camera, monitor, printer or other devices. The two monitors also feature a high contrast ratio of 700:1 and a brightness of 300 cd/m2. The BenQ FP93GW LCD monitor is equipped with both traditional D-Sub and next-generation DVI input support, while the FP93GWa comes equipped with analog input only. The BenQ FP93GW LCD monitor will be available in Asia in March and the FP93GWa will be available in Asia in early April.

Samsung Electronics, announced today that it has developed a 2.1" LCD panel for high-end mobile devices that will provide qVGA resolution and comes equipped with sensors designed to adjust brightness to optimize ambient lighting. Screen brightness is automatically adjusted to enhance readability under any lighting condition. Designed for use in high-end mobile phones, PDAs and portable media players, the new panel also has a temperature compensation sensor embedded in its LCD driver IC that maintains a steady operational mode regardless of any temperature change in the surrounding environment. The signal processing function within the display driver IC converts ambient light measurements from the sensors into pulse-width modulation signals. Those PWM signals then automatically signal the LED controller in the LCD backlight unit to adjust the screen brightness to provide optimal readability as outside lighting conditions change. Samsung's LCD Business is planning to produce the new 2.1" qVGA LCD with ABC capability in the second half of this year.

Toshiba Matsushita Display Technology (TMD) announced development of new 10.4-inch(1024x768/XGA) and 10.6-inch(1280x768/WXGA) thin-film transistor (TFT) LCD panels for notebooks. The displays incorporate a LED (light emitting diode) backlighting system to provide low-profile, lightweight, and low-power consumption features. Compared with a conventional cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) backlighting system, the LED backlighting has distinct advantages such as reduced thickness, reduced weight, increased brightness, and decreased power consumption. In addition, it is Mercury-Free and RoHS- Compatible. Moreover, an LED backlighting system contributes to increased durability against impacts and vibration. Including the two newly developed panels, TMD's lineup of LED-backlit TFT LCD panels now offers screen sizes from 8.9-inch to 13.3-inch and pixel resolutions of XGA, WXGA, and WXGA+. In these notebook PC panels, in addition to the adoption of an LED-backlight system, TMD has also adopted thinner glass substrates of 0.3 mm or less, reduced the number of component parts to the minimum requirement. TMD foresees strong growth in this area, and these types of LED-backlit panels will exceed 50 percent of TMD's production in late 2007.

Acer's LCD monitor family just got a new member: The xSeries. Covering nearly the full range, starting from a 17 inch model up to the 24 inch one, the xSeries is completely Vista certified (whatever that means).
Prices start at US$179.99 for the x171s (17") and go all the way up to US$599.99 for the x241Wsd (24").

During the ongoing CeBIT show in Hannover, Samsung Electronics is introducing a 30-inch LCD monitor that incorporates an LED as the backlight source. Featuring a 123% color production, 3000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, 2ms response time and viewing angle of 170 degrees, this monitor has the perfect specs. The SyncMaster XL30 will come equipped with "Eyeone Design & Eyeone Photo" and "Natural Color Expert" software. Various input terminals such as USB terminal, DVI-D are available and the 30-inch monitor also features HDCP for viewing high-definition (HD) contents via DVI ports. At the show, Samsung is also launching the 19-inch SyncMaster 940UX LCD monitor we told you about earlier this year, that can be connected using only an USB port.

As manufacturers get closer and closer to 3D screens, IO2 has launched its Heliodisplay which gives a pretty convincing 3D image. This holographic-style display works by projecting a 2D image onto a cloud of microscopic droplets (probably water, although this isn't confirmed), giving an image with fully rendered colors and legible text, at a resolution of 1024 x1024 pixels. One of the impressive features of the display is its mid-air touch sensitivity, allowing an interactive display for performing actions such as rotating objects - this makes it ideal for use in environments such as museums. It isn't cheap though - the touch sensitive model costs $19,400 - and image quality is still lacking behind CRT and LCD displays, but IO2 is likely to continue improving the Heliodisplay.

The current record holder for the world's thinnest LCD screen is Samsung Electronics, with its screen being just 0.82mm thick. However, that is soon about to change as subsidiary company Samsung SDI is planning to produce a new LCD which will be a mere 0.74mm, easily enough to push its parent company into the number two slot. Although the new screen hasn't got beyond the prototype design stage yet, once it is released it could help to make the next generation of mobiles that little bit thinner. The thinnest LCD screen in mass production will soon become Samsungs 1.9mm offering, which should be available in handsets during spring, so phones sporting these sub-1mm screens could take some time to appear on shelves.

Samsung will unveil a new LCD that can be connected to a PC via an integrated USB port, according to an article published at heise.de. When connected to a PC via USB 2.0, the 19" Syncmaster 940UX using PVA panel and 1280x1024 standard resolution, appears as a removable storage device in Windows, which contains a setup routine that installs a virtual graphics card as well as a USB display driver. While a USB-connected LCD cannot be used as primary monitor, the new approach allows users to connect up to six LCDs (and up to three virtual graphics cards) as extended monitors to their PC. Unfortunately connecting multiple displays to USB ports is highly CPU dependent, and Samsung recommends a dual-core processor with a clock speed of at least 2 GHz. The Samsung 940UX could become available during the first half of 2007 and should cost less than 430 Euros (about $560).

ASUS has introduced two new widecreen LCD monitors the MW221U and MW201U, sharing 1680 x 1050 resolution, 700:1 contrast ratio, support for HDCP (High-Bandwidth Digital Content Protection) and Microsoft Windows Vista Certification. The MW221U and MW201U both incorporate ASUS's exclusive Trace Free Technology, which accelerates response time to 2ms to enable smooth video quality without ghosting and video delays. Both monitors display 16.7 million colors and adopt ASUS Splendid Video Intelligence Technology for more spectacular Vista experiences making the MW221U and MW201U the best choices for visually upgrading the system.

Acer now offers a full range of LCD monitors, ready and tested by WHQL (Windows Hardware Quality Labs) for Windows Vista compliance. Acer's widescreen LCD monitor lines include 20", 22", 24" and 26" sizes with 16:10 display ratio to give plenty of onscreen space for applications, and extra room on the side for Vista's Sidebar, Office2007, Vista Media Center, Internet Explorer 7's Tab Browsing, Navigation, Preview pane or Reading Pane modes of Explorer. Acer LCD monitors will now carry a Vista-certified logo, indicating clearly to purchasers that the devices can enable additional or enhanced capabilities. The corresponding lines/models are: ALxx1x series for Value, Xxxx series for X, ALxx2x series for Office, and ALxx5x series for the Performance and Gamers line.

Generally speaking, Dell isn't well known for producing beautiful monitors which sit elegantly on your desk, but this new concept design could prompt a change in direction for Dell. The prototype, although this is unlikely to reach the production stage, features an ultra-flat LCD panel encased in a sheet of glass, with a resolution of 1920x1200 pixels. The monitor also features build in speakers and a microphone/webcam at the top. The power supply rests on the floor nearer the mains rather than being enclosed within the case, which allows a much thinner screen. Although this may not be to everyone's tastes, it's certainly a new image for Dell, but you'll probably never be given the chance to buy one.

NEC Display Solutions of America recently announced the extension of its MultiSync 90-series with a 24- (LCD2490WUXi) and 26-inch (LCD2690WUXi) widescreen LCD monitors. The new models are available from February 2007 with estimated street prices of US$1,499.99 for the 24-inch and US$1,699.99 for the 26-inch model. The new displays qualify as Windows Vista Premium monitors and comply with the EU's RoHS and WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) directives. Based on in-plane switching (IPS) module technology, both models feature a native resolution 1920x1200, a brightness of 400cd/m2 and a contrast ratio of 800:1. The 26-inch model has a 92% color gamut. Both monitors have HDCP, which is supported through the DVI-D connector.