A company named eCinema Systems has recently announced a new LCD technology that can surpass CRT in virtually every aspect...or so they say. Although LCDs are technologically more advanced than CRTs (Cathode Ray Tube), they have been left behind by their older counterpart in the field of color response, saturation, accuracy and black-level response. The new LCD innovation from eCinema is being tagged as the high dynamic range LCD or the DCM40HDR.

Apparently, this developed LCD can support deep color - which is higher than 24-bit color and this one can support up to 48-bit color. The new panels are able to display 36-bit color (12-bits per color channel), and 1000 to 4000 step gray-scales, producing fantastic gradients.

Most LCDs today produce only 256 gray steps at most. This new "deep color" technology will be standard with the new HDMI 1.3 specification. What's most interesting about eCinema's LCD display however, is its contrast ratio: 30,000:1. At this rating, eCinema's new DCM40HDR panel can achieve black levels that even CRTs cannot match. If that happens, CRT technology would be in deep trouble.

But this eCinema development is definitely a double-edged sword: If it performs well, higher quality LCD panels will be rampant in the industry. On the other hand, if it doesn't do good, not only would eCinema suffer the consequences but they would also give headaches to other LCD-making companies. Now that's a heavy load if you ask me. Let's wait and see what happens next.