More news than normal with devices sporting the proper film aspect ratio 21:9, with the ultra-widescreen format gracing one new gadget, while another company kills it off completely.
Widescreen is big on practically every device, except for the 4:3 aspect ratio used for Apple’s iPad, but the problem with most widescreen gadgets is that it’s not truly “widescreen”.
Our displays often fit the 16:9 aspect ratio, but movies actually display at the 21:9 aspect ratio, which is rarely seen on devices usually because it’s such a wide display.
In fact, the ultra-wide screen has only appeared on a handful of TVs, one laptop, and a couple of phones, with Philips the only manufacturer to release a 21:9 TV locally, Toshiba recently announcing its first 21:9 laptop, and LG experimenting in this space with the Chocolate smartphone series several years ago.
LG is testing the waters again at IFA with the EA93 (above), a 29 inch monitor that supports this ultra-wide format and sports a resolution of 2560×1080.
Like many of the displays we’re seeing in new monitors, the LG EA93 features a high grade In-Plane Switching (IPS) panel which should provide decent colours and excellent viewing angles, and throws in two HDMI, one DVI-D port, one DisplayPort, USB 3.0 ports, and a headphone out.
The LG display also features something interesting called “Four Screen Split” which can apparently divide the screen into four specific sections and let you multitask better.
No word on pricing or availability in Australia, though we’re hoping for both to arrive in our inboxes soon. Stay tuned.
Meanwhile, reports from at least one site are suggesting that Philips is killing off its 21:9 TV presence. According to FlatPanels HD, Philips has said the demand for the 21:9 TVs just isn’t there and won’t be making any new models.
If you have one, it just become a collector’s item.
