Philips pondering what to do with low-margin TV business {Engadget HD}

Jan 23rd 2008 2:48PM Ambilight is actually a really great idea based on solid science and research.
The problem ambilight has is that it needs to be installed to see the difference. You can't have it sitting in a wall in best buy next to 100 other sets and see the difference.

Beyond making the screen feel bigger it will make the apparent blacks blacker. Black is only seen in relation to the ambient light level. This idea has been used in professional settings for decades. Telecine bays, where they transfer your films to video and DVD have a very similar back light that does not reflect back on to the face of the screen.

Phillips has a lot of very good IP that will make displays and TV's better to watch. If they go away only Samsung, Sony,and a handful of tech startups will be making new display technology.