For the first time ever the FIFA World Cup Finals will be held in the African continent, more precisely in South Africa, it is also the first a South American brand is one of the official sponsors, Spain could win it for the first time and this will be the first ever World Cup broadcasted in 3D.

Many of you reading this article might be on plane on its way to South Africa to watch your squad live but for us unlucky mortals reality just got a little closer thanks to the introduction of 3D TVs and 3D TV Broadcasting, more to that in another article.

3D Video technology has been around for quite some time now, who doesn’t remember those paper goggles with red and green lenses we need to watch 3D movies at the theaters. Since then 3D video technology has evolved and we are now able to have it in our own homes thanks to an avalanche of 3D TVs introduced to the market this spring.

Manufacturers like Sony, Panasonic, Phillips, LG and Samsung released a new range of 3D Ready TV sets and they are all very optimistic that the technology is here to stay. Prof to that are their predictions, many of them believe that by 2012 3D TV sales will account for more than 50% of their respective TV distribution.

It is expected that the screens will use a mixture of technologies until there is standardisation across the industry. The entertainment industry is working to develop a common and compatible standard for 3D in home electronics.

As you can see 3D Video Technology has evolved to new boundaries but one thing that remains the same is the need of 3D glasses but that is also about to change. Chinese manufacturer TCL has created a 42-inch LCD 3D TV that uses a lenticular system and does not require any special glasses. This 3D TV set is currently available in China for a bargain of $20,000, approximately 13,700 pounds.

3D broadcasting has been around since 2008, the Japanese cable channel BS 11 has been broadcasting 3D programs approximately four times a day since. Earlier this year satellite TV giant Sky launched Sky Sport 3D, together with other TV networks around the globe it will be broadcasting live FIFA World Cup matches in 3D.

It is quite obvious that this innovative technology is here to stay, so the million dollar question right now is. Is it the right time to buy a 3D TV set or is it too early and we should wait till the technology is more mature and standardisation has been set?

If you, like me, are probably bubbling with anticipation about the WorldCup and a bit of ‘worry’ is starting to creep in, the nails are being ‘groomed’, (so to speak) , then I can honestly say, things are about to get worse. Yes, watching this world cup is going to be a stressful ( in a nice way, of course ) experience.

Unlike other sporting events, the World Cup almost enevitably leaves us with some amazing memorable moments and talking points. Nowadays, unlike in the days of Pele amd Cruyff, every aspect of the beautiful game is capture by a camera from every conceivable angle.

This World Cup, it is going to be worse for us worriers because it’ll be captured in HD ( High Definition) and the experience will be heightened. Clearer, crisper and closer to the action. Close enough to see the sweat dripping under the eye-brow of Frank Lampard, as he takes a penalty.

So, watch and experiencing the Fab Footie, has never been easier and better. Across the spectrum of TVs, screens are getting bigger, and the technology is getting thinner and more environmently friendly too. The definition is getting higher, and the screen frequecies higher – all simply designed to bring us all closer to the real thing. Frankly, that’s going to be tough on the anxiety side of things… but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Can you imagine how clear and crisp the memories after this great occasion will be firmly fixed in my head.

So, like most, you probably are thinking of sitting down to watch TV on the big screen, and perhaps, while you’re here visiting our site,  thinking about one of our deals.

Our prices have always been competitive – if not verging on aggressive- and sometimes, you might need an added incentive to purchase from AJ Electronics – if 26years in the business isnt enough. So ,we thought our ‘2 Ways 2 Win’ Competition, might make a persuasive case.

The concept is simple,… simple complete the competition and answer the simple, ( and I mean dead simple question!), and you gt a chance to win a new Samsung 3D TV, normally worth more than £1200. But if that does not suit you, you could get your money back from any purchase made at AJ Electronics ( to the value of £1200).

2 Ways 2 Win - Samsung 3D TV

So while you are with us online, and still mulling over what you’ll be purchasing, just take a minute and either win a new 3D TV ( probably the next big thing) or get your hard earned cash back on any purchase made in Hune and July this year. More details in the terms and conditions, via the competition page. So.. what are you waiting for!

If you haven’t bought a new TV set for a good 4 or 5 years, then 2010 is the year to do so. The future of  TV sets is about improved quality, slimness and 3D capability. CES 2010 in Las Vegas came to an end on the 10th of January. After taking a close look at the HDTVs on display, we’ve outlined the trends predicted for 2010 and shortlisted this year’s most exciting launches.

After a year of speculation, top TV manufacturers confirmed that 2010 will be the year of 3D television – with manufacturers like LG, Sony, Samsung and Toshiba announcing that 3D TV sets will be on sale in the UK by April. With Sky announcing that 3D broadcasting will be available by October, we strongly recommend that if you are planning on investing in a new HDTV set, go for a 3D one.

OLED is also set to be the next big thing in picture quality. The only problem is that manufacturers like LG can only make OLED TV as big as 15 inches; however we expect to see bigger sets over the next few years as the technology inevitably advances. OLED (which stands for Organic Light Emitting Diode) produces super crisp pictures with unbelievable quality and definition.

So, that’s enough small talk. Let’s get down to our list of best HDTV’s set to hit the shops in 2010…

LG Infinia LE9500 3D-Ready LED TV

For those who were lucky enough to be at this year’s CES will testify that LG’s 6.9mm model is the world’s thinnest LED TV. LG’s Infinia LE9500 3D-Ready LED TV comes equipped with an arsenal of innovations that includes 3D–Ready support, Skype capabilities and streaming media from Netflix, VUDU, YouTube, Napster and Yahoo! Widgets.. With this model, LG have broken conventions of LED TV design by transforming the screen into the actual speakers – which allows it to be so thin without compromising sound quality.

Toshiba Cell TVs

Besides using the same type of processor used in the PlayStation 3 and offering native 3D capability, Toshiba has packed its next generation of HDTVs with every feature we ever dreamed of. Toshiba also claims that, thanks to a new technology called TriVector Cell, TV series will be able to convert 2D content into 3D content in real time. No demo was available so we’ll have to hold off our judgement for now.

Samsung LED 9000 Series

The 900 series is the next gen of Samsung’s LED LCD TVs and the flagship model the Samsung C9000 is perhaps one of the slickest TV sets we’ve ever set eyes on. Just so you can comprehend the C900’s sleekness: the model is the same width as a number two pencil. The Samsung C900 is of course 3D, and is also capable of converting 2D content into 3D, again no demo was available.

LG 15-inch OLED TV

Despite its size, the LG 15-inch OLED TV is the biggest possible OLED TV to date, but give a few more years and we’ll see 26, 36, 47-inch OLED TV sets. OLED is the future of HDTV, this LG OLED produces super crisp picture with and absolutely stunning picture quality.

Sony Bravia Full HD 3D TV

As expected, Sony also caught the 3D flu that contaminated the world’s top television manufacturers and also introduced a new series of 3D TVs at this year’s CES. Sony will offer three separate lines of Bravia Full HD 3D TVs. The LX900 series, due out this summer, is available in size up to 60 inches and includes an edge-lit LED backlight system. Other features include 240Hz processing, integrated WiFi and two active shutter glasses for watching 3D content. It features what Sony calls a Monolithic industrial design with a smooth glass surface from edge to edge.

The consumer electronics giant also used the 3D wave to introduce its first 3D-capable Blu-ray player with WiFi connectivity and instant streaming of online content.