A new big-size TV is a considerable purchase for anyone, and so it's always tempting to hold on for the 'next big thing' before you buy.
3D was once one of these future technologies, but these days there are more 3D models out there than non-3D models.
The great hopes of the TV industry in 2012 are OLED, 4K and glasses-free 3D. So to get the latest on these exciting new developments, check out these features:
OLED TV: what you need to know
Everything you need to know about OLED; how it works, when it'll be here and how much it'll cost
Apart from two show-off teeny tiny TVs from Sony and LG, OLED panels have so far only been common in mobile phones, and while their future in tablets and digital cameras is assured, there's much less certainlt surrounding the super-flat tech's suitability - and, crucially, its affordability - for use in bigscreen TVs.
Should you wait for the first OLED TV? Will they be affordable? And what are the advantages of OLED technology?
- Read more about OLED
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4K TV resolution
What is 4K, why is it significant and when can you get it?
TV is gearing up for another revolution in picture quality. Today's 1920 x 1080 resolution Full HD TVs present us with an image of around 2 million pixels. But a new generation of screens are coming that deliver an 8 million pixel image.
These so called 4K Quad HD, or Super HD, displays, have a resolution of 3840 x 2160 (give or take), and can offer unprecedented picture clarity.
But their introduction will prove complex in the extreme. Introducing a 4K TV isn't like adding LED backlighting to an LCD. It's about orchestrating a seismic shift in the broadcast and entertainment infrastructure, not to mention rewriting the consumer electronics handbook.
- Read more about 4K
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12 best Blu-ray players
BUYING GUIDE: From cheap options to 3D players and high-end all-in-ones
When big and bulky Blu-ray players first appeared on the shelves a few years ago they were all about high definition. Back then, simply getting HD content into your HD Ready TV was the hottest ticket in town - and it came at a high price.
In 2012 those first-gen players are buried in the distant past. We've now got super-slim machines with loading times in single figure seconds, 3D Blu-ray playback, 2D-to-3D conversion, movie streaming and all kinds of networking and digital file possibilities.
Why 4K isn't ready to replace HD
EXPLAINED: Four times better than HD, 4K TV has many hurdles to climb
Forget three-disc Blu-ray boxsets stuffed with a digital version and some fancy extras. Without new compression tech the next-gen could see films released in 200+ disc 'shelfset' editions. Such is the leap in quality and detail from simple high definition to so-called 4K – the next big thing in cinema – that home entertainment is set to become a whole lot more demanding.
Read: Why 4K isn't heading for the mass market just yet
Sony is trying to save the world
Self-cooling buildings and TVs made from recycled DVDs
Sony is famous for a lot of things. Most recently it's been the launch of the PS Vita and some disappointing financial results that have been getting the headlines.
But one thing Sony hasn't had much coverage over is its work to reduce its impact on the environment.
Of course, any manufacturer of oil-based plastic products creates a sizeable carbon footprint but Sony has become a shining example to other electronics manufacturers by committing to completely eliminate its negative effect on the environment by 2050.
Read: Sony's green masterplan
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